Dining, Minnesota

The Ultimate Vegan Guide For Duluth & The North Shore

Here is the Ultimate guide for finding vegan food in Duluth & The North Shore in Minnesota. If you’re looking for the best vegan food for Duluth, MN, you’ll find plenty of delicious options as you explore Duluth and the North Shore on Scenic Highway 61. We’ve pulled together a list of vegan food in Duluth to make your North Shore vacation deliciously easy!

Vegan Guide to Duluth, MN & The North Shore (4)

One thing that we really love about the local restaurants in Duluth and the North Shore area is the focus on using local ingredients whenever possible. The same approach is used when it comes to finding vegan options in Duluth and The North Shore. If you have a dairy-free, whole-food, plant-based, or vegan sitting with you at your table, you’ll be pleased to know that it is easy and delicious to enjoy vegan food in Duluth, MN, and the North Shore!

Find the best vegan food in Duluth, MN & The North Shore

We’re not playing favorites, so here is an alphabetical list of the best vegan food in Duluth and the North Shore on the scenic highway 61.

At Sarah’s Table Chester Creek Cafe- Duluth, MN

1902 E 8th St • Duluth • MN •  55812 WebsiteFacebookMenu

Described as “locally influenced comfort food” with on-site vegetable gardens, this is a real gem. The dining room is very cozy.  Sara’sh Table is a delicious spot for vegan food in Duluth that offers multiple vegan dishes.

Kelly ordered the Buddha Bowl with Kimchi and added tofu. There was also an option to add tempeh, which is kind of a rare opportunity in our experience. The bowl included kimchi, kale, edamame, broccoli, brown rice, tahini dressing, sesame seed, pepitas, and avocado.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Dusty ordered the vegan sliders. They were really good and were surprised to hear that they were Beyond Meat. We made a Beyond Meat at home and were unimpressed. We found out these vegan sliders were a mixture of Beyond Meat and other ingredients. It was a delicious surprise! House-cut fries were a special treat, too. 

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Duluth Grill

I-35 & 27th Avenue West • Duluth • MN •  55806 WebsiteFacebookMenu

Each time we go to Duluth Grill they have new items on the menu and depending on what’s in season. Even if you can’t find the particular dishes we ordered, know that there will be some good, straight-up vegan options,  with the ability to adapt other recipes as well. One cool thing we learned while talking to our waitress is that the owners of the restaurant grow a lot of their own vegetables on their own property.  The employees also help harvest and tend to the garden. We also noticed herbs growing in raised gardens in the parking lot!

Dusty and I each find an item that we’d both like on the menu so that we can share our dishes with each other. Dusty definitely won this pick- he ordered the Thai-Ghetti. It was a peanut sauce over zucchini.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Kelly ordered the Buddha Bowl. It was good but not nearly as good as Dusty’s Thai-Ghetti. Pro Tip: request no oil. It was a little overpowering but that’s because we don’t eat oil at home. The oil may not bother everyone. You can always count on delicious vegan food in Duluth if you eat at Duluth Grill.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Juice Pharm

208 E 1st Street • Duluth • MN •  55802 WebsiteFacebookMenu

We found Juice Pharm thanks to our Instagram Account. According to their website, Juice Pharm is Duluth’s first juice bar & 100% plant-based bistro. They serve fresh-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, acai bowls & fresh food in a travel-inspired atmosphere.

Of course, we could not resist the avocado toast. It included a smashed avocado on Positively 3rd Street bakery toast and top it off with alfalfa sprouts, cracked lemon pepper, flax seeds, and olive oil.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

The special for the week we visited was cauliflower ceviche tacos. We knew we’d be ordering those!

vegan food in Duluth, MN

We were blown away by the curried chickpeas + cucumbers, purple cabbage slaw, thinly sliced radishes, cilantro, and creamy siracha on corn tortillas. Head to Juice Pharm for delicious and healthy vegan food in Duluth.

New Scenic Cafe

5461 N Shore Drive • Duluth • MN •  55804 WebsiteFacebook Menu

We have driven by many times but for whatever reason, we have never eaten here before. Our meal was so delectable that it makes us wonder what we missed out on by not eating here before. We totally loved our experience. We were greeted with toasted pistachios in the cutest little cups and water at a perfect drinking temperature. Our choices were simple to make because they were the only 2 vegan options on the menu. This was definitely a case of quality over quantity.

We ordered the Heirloom Tomato appetizer-  melon cucumber arugula artichoke hearts Marcona almond sauce vierge tomato shrub. Not only is it a work of art but it was delicious.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Our entree was the Marinated Tofu- wakame miso ginger & soy green tea soba noodles bok choy shiitake hon shimeji togarashi. It is an understatement to say that this tofu was likely the best we’ve ever tasted. 

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

As we mentioned before, the menu changes frequently because of what is available seasonally. If you plan to dine here, it might be best to call ahead or check an online menu to see if there are any vegan options during your visit.

To say this was a favorite meal is an understatement. There’s something about the North Shore that is magical to us. This meal just completely enhanced our North Shore experience.

Pizza Luce

11 E Superior Street #100 • Duluth •  MN•  55802 Website •  Facebook •  Menu (Other Pizza Luce locations in Minnesota: Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minneapolis Neighborhoods: Downtown, Uptown, Seward, St. Paul, Richfield, and Roseville

To say we love Pizza Luce is an understatement. There are so many vegan choices at Pizza Luce. You definitely don’t have to comb the menu for that one meal that you can kind of modify. There are plenty of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and pizza options that are vegan.

Pizza Luce also offers weekend brunch with plenty of vegan options that are delicious.

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Pro Tip: Follow Pizza Luce on social media. Last year we got in on a deal for a free $25 gift card when you purchase a $100 gift card.

Sala Thai Restaurant

114 W 1st St • Duluth •  MN•  55802 Website •  Facebook •  Menu

Full disclosure: this was not the best Thai we’ve eaten but it is an option if you need to satisfy a craving!

We ordered our Pad Thai without egg but it arrived with egg. Also, the flavor was just average. We ate around it because it was close to closing time. Most of the lights were off. We didn’t want to bother with a re-order. Sometimes *stuff* happens, amiright?

Toasty’s

Hillside location • 1032 E 9th Street • Downtown location • 220 W Superior Street Website •  Facebook •  Menu

Toasty’s is all about the grilled cheese! There are three vegan cheese options allowing you to kinds to customize any of the sandwich options. We were especially impressed when they asked if we had allergies which we do not but they take dietary restrictions seriously. They also use vegan butter.

Since they had three kinds of cheese, we got the Double Decker so we could have all three kinds of cheese (Daiya Swiss, Cheddar, and Jalapeño Havarti). We totally enjoyed it. Hit play on the video below to see the cheesy goodness!

Zeitgeist Art Cafe

222 E Superior St. • Duluth • MN • 55802 WebsiteFacebook Menu

Surprisingly, we’d not been to Zeitgeist Art Cafe before. It was a treat. So much to look at, it’ truly is an art cafe! We opted to share an appetizer and an entree. The Mediterranean Plate included roasted red pepper hummus with naan, Kalamata olives, sliced cucumbers, red peppers, and carrots. It was delicious and also a feast for the eyes.

For our entree, we chose the Thai Chili Bowl. It consisted of Thai chilies, pea pods, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots served in a mushroom broth over rice noodles, topped with roasted peanuts and cilantro. It was divine and the broth was perfect for a chilly Duluth day!

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Vegan Guide to Duluth & North Shore

Cedar Coffee Company- Two Harbors, MN

1130 11th Street (just north of Shopko) • Two Harbors • MN • 55616 Website •  Facebook •  Menu

We’ve stopped here a couple of times and it’s a great atmosphere. A bike shop is attached. If you’re so inclined, you can sit on the patio, tucked into the tall pine trees. It’s a delightful stop.

We asked during one of our visits and they’re happy to veganize most items upon request. We opted for fig toast (omitting the salted butter). It was a fun treat.

Grab a coffee or tea for your ride as you continue to enjoy what the North Shore has to offer!

Vegan Guide to Duluth & The North Shore

Rustic Inn Cafe- Castle Danger, MN

1130 11th Street • Two Harbors • MN • 55616 Website •  Facebook •  Menu

The menu had a couple of dishes that with modifications can be made vegan. We opted for the Hummus/Flatbread Pizza. It was seriously amazing. One Or Two Grilled 8″ Flatbread, Roasted Hummus, and Seasonal Vegetables with a balsamic R=reduction. We omitted the feta cheese from this.

Can’t say enough about this- the serving size was big enough that it could have been a meal.

Pro Tip: Share an appetizer and a meal for an opportunity to taste more of the menu!

Vegan Guide To Duluth & The North Shore

We also shared the Roasted Vegetable Melt which had grilled mushrooms, peppers, red onions, and tomato with a roasted red pepper vinaigrette and topped with sprouts on top of a Focaccia Bread. To make this dish vegan, we omitted the Swiss cheese.

Pin to find vegan food in Duluth & the North Shore:

Vegan Guide to Duluth & The North Shore 2

Tell us, do you have a favorite spot for vegan food in Duluth? We’d love to add it to our list.

13 Comments

  1. Guide to Vegan Food in Mankato Minnesota

    August 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm

    […] Visiting Duluth, MN? Check out our popular Duluth Vegan Guide […]

  2. Melissa

    August 20, 2018 at 5:22 pm

    You guyyyys! Thanks so much for sharing this! We’re leaving for our annual ‘Up North’ getaway next week and this collection of vegan restaurants is so helpful! XO

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      August 27, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      You’re welcome! Enjoy your annual “Up North” getaway- we love it up there so much!

  3. Vicki

    June 18, 2018 at 10:07 pm

    I didn’t know that Duluth had a grilled cheese place! On my list for next time! Your food from New Scenic Cafe looks so good…we’ve been meaning to go there too. Definitely bookmarking this for later. Thanks guys!

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      July 9, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      Grilled Cheese- yes! I’m sure your kids would love it. New Scenic Cafe is so good and such a beautiful atmosphere!

  4. Lindsay @ Let Me Give You Some Advice

    June 18, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Yum! I’m not a vegan but all of these look amazing and I would happily eat my way through this itinerary 🙂

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      July 9, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      We think you’d love the vegan options, Lindsay but for sure you’d find other options at these places too!

  5. Jeni

    June 17, 2018 at 3:55 pm

    I loved this post! Finding vegan options when traveling can be difficult sometimes but ur looks like Duluth has so many great options!

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      July 9, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      Duluth has a lot of great options! Just another reason to love Duluth. A handful of breweries, too!

  6. Kim (Oh My Omaha)

    June 14, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Your photos really make me want to visit each place, and I’m not even vegan. Everything sounds delicious!

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      June 14, 2018 at 11:13 am

      Thank you, Kim! It was all so delicious- we think meat eaters would enjoy these meals too, and we should know because we used to eat meat!

  7. Jen! / Jen!Eats (@JeniEats)

    June 10, 2018 at 9:42 am

    I loved following your trip posts. We’ll be checking this post when we go back later this summer. You included a lot of places we want to try.

    1. Kelly & Dusty Ratcliff

      June 13, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Thank you, Jeni! So many great places to eat in the Duluth area!

We'd love to hear from you!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.