Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Take-out
Breakfast
Twin Cities vegetarian cafe with an extensive menu. Includes vegan pancake, stir fry with choice tempeh, tofu, or seitan, and greasy spoon style dishes like breakfast eggs, toast, and hash brown. Worker-owned with punk-rock atmosphere. Open for dine-in and takeout (no patio as of 2022). Open Mon-Sun 8:00am-12:00am.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
-
1821 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55454
-
Loading...
-
- Cash only
-
-
Last update on 11 Mar 2025 by geometric-noise
Update business info
-
-
107 Reviews
First Review by condekedar
TaylorSublett
Points +225
Fun Brunch Options - Edit
The menu had so many vegetarian and vegan options for menu items, bakery items, and drink items! We got the vegan Chai tea w oatmilk, the vegan rancheros and the vegan helter skelter. While we enjoyed everything, I think the vegan rancheros were our favorite. Definitely something for everyone here no matter someone's taste preferences.
Read moreThis is a cash only establishment.
Pros: Reasonable Prices, Big Menu, Friendly Workers
Guest
ForTheAnimals23
Points +690
Wanted to love it - Edit
Had high hopes visiting
Read moreAriel was amazing. So friendly, answered all of my questions. I tried the huevos rancheros tacos, Ruben, and blueberry muffin. All were super underwhelming. While it is a fun environment with board games and cool decor, it smelled like wet dog and felt grungy and dirty in the dinning area and the bathroom.
Thank you for the hospitality.
PS CASH ONLY RESTURANT
Pros: Friendly staff , Diverse options
Cons: Dirty
Guest
Dartert3t
Points +178
Vegan and vegetarian restaurant! - Edit
They have great options for vegan and vegetarian food including amazing baked goods!
Read moreThey do only take cash!
Guest
KyleHeiner
Points +246
BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY - Edit
fun punk vibe. dirt cheap. lots of delicious baked goods. cash only. but as i said, you MUST order the biscuits and gravy (with homemade sausage on the side) it was beyond delicious!!
Read morePros: SAVORY YUMMY BISCUITS AND GRAVY
Cons: cash only (but they have an ATM)
Guest
JulianaCasati
Points +4845
Breakfast all day long! - Edit
Breakfast is my favorite meal and I love having breakfast food any time of the day! That's why I ordered the vegan biscuit breakfast (with gravy) for dinner and I have no regrets. Delicious dish with an amazing combination of flavors and textures. The vegan chocolate chip cookie was also really good! Huge and not expensive. Great value for money overall.
Read moreGuest
VeganDanMN
Points +4959
Best vegan biscuits & gravy - Edit
My search for the best vegan biscuits & gravy in the Twin Cities has ended. It can be found here at the Hard Times Café. Soft & fluffy biscuits topped with house-made mushroom gravy that has the perfect umami savoriness. Loved every bite.
Read moreGuest
musically
Points +55
Recurring great spot - Edit
Good coffee, AMAZING baked goods. My non vegan party was equally as impressed. Balanced menu options. Almost everything has a vegan option.
Read morePros: Affordable, Great coffee, Insanely good bakery
Guest
EatPlantsNotFriends
Points +279
Incredible Rueben - Edit
What incredible food! I couldn’t believe how great their rueben is. I wish they took card. Whenever I’m in the area I try to stop in! Staff were very friendly and the atmosphere is great
Read moreGuest
julie9.
Points +472
Great vegan brunch options - Edit
Great food, reasonably priced, fun atmosphere, would recommend!
Read moreGuest
Rachel_Faye_123
Points +142
Holy Buckets! It’s delicious! - Edit
I LOVE Hard Times Cafe. They have late hours for those night owls. Dynamite plant based cuisine (highly recommend vegan biscuits & gravy and Huevos Rancheros). It reminds me of the coffee shops I would go to in the 90s/2000s. Definitely lean on the punky side.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-01-08
Guest
baltic_balzams
Points +55
Good times at Hard Times - Edit
Delicious vegan biscuits and gravy, vegan baked goods, and so much more. Been going here since the '90s.
Read moreGuest
dangan
Points +24
Great alt space for hot drinks and food - Edit
A go-to place for an easygoing meal. Loads of vegan options. Wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks.
Read morePros: The baked goods, The good portions, Affordability
Guest
mandaziegelman
Points +419
Nostalgia - Edit
Being vegan for over 20 years, the flavors taste like comfort and the vibes take me back to playing D & D til’ 4am here drinking the best coffee. I love their vegan treats! Every time I’m in Minneapolis i come here at least once for that classic veggie food. Hard Times cafe forever!!!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-07-29
Pros: Classic MPLS vegan punk, Low key, Tofu scramble
Guest
macymoo
Points +1630
Love the muffins - Edit
I tried a bunch of pastries while I was in Minneapolis. Most pastries are vegan, but not all—I made the mistake of eating the non-vegan coffee cake. The muffins are great ($4).
Read morePros: Prices include tax, Mostly vegan pastries
Cons: Cash only
Guest
VeganVMD
Points +110
Punk rock community - Edit
Great options. All vegetarian and most items are also vegan. They were playing the Stooges while I was there. All cash but they have an atm inside. Some take away baked goods and sandwich options.
Read morePros: Excellent community, Delicious food, Excellent baked goods
Cons: Wish there was a bottomless coffee option
Guest
Redlurcher
Points +48
Cash only - Edit
Wanted to go as the food looks good, got an Uber there from our hotel to the cafe to find it was cash only and none of us had cash. So disappointed 😞
Read morePros: The menu looked really good
Cons: Cash only!
Guest
SparrowPraxis
Points +145
Good, but not always reliable - Edit
A great spot for coffee, food, and atmosphere, i definitely go here often. However the food can be hit or miss, and isnt always seasoned well.
Read moreGuest
Zurv
Points +1937
Delicious - Edit
Not fully vegan but great place. Awesome vibes in here. Very different and unique place. The chai with oat milk was great and the muffin and rice crispies are delicious.
Read morePros: Chai, Food, Vibes
Guest
xEarlx
Points +93
Absolutely Incredible - Edit
I ordered a vegan S'mores bar and the vegan breakfast (two biscuits with mushroom gravy, sausage patty, hash browns, and tofu scramble) and it was perfect. The gravy was reminiscent of old school Tofurkey gravy but way better seasoning. The service was great as well!
Read moreGo here. Right now.
Guest
Emma_XVX_Omaha
Points +239
Must Stop in Minneapolis - Edit
Awesome values and great food to go along with it.
Read morePros: CHEAP AF, Tons of vegan options
Guest
AmandaLackey
Points +89
Really good - Edit
I had the vegan breakfast biscuit meal. It reminded me of KFC biscuits from when I was a kid. They also have a huge selection of vegan pastries. I got the orange and cardamom muffin. Big note: they only take cash
Read morePros: So many selections, Vegan pastries, Cute place to bring a computer and chill
Cons: Cash only
Guest
TrevorKMDay
Points +78
Classic vege place - Edit
Always a good spot to drop in after a night out
Read moreGuest
Cheyenne2116
Points +124
Great place, low cost - Edit
Punk rock coffee shop and bomb not-so-greasy spoon. Self-ordering and don’t expect any “Minnesota nice”, but baked goods and griddle food and soups are amazing. #Veganuary
Read morePros: Baked goods , Biscuits and gravy, To go items
Guest
SaraNorlin
Points +3915
Punk vibes, tasty food - Edit
Always excellent. The food is great and the vibe is laid back to the extreme with a directness not easy to find in the Midwest. I come here every time I need some vegan protein and a break from my family.
Read moreGuest
CoryS
Points +11
Bad Atmosphere - Edit
The girl at the counter had a terrible attitude. Rude and condescending. I’m sure the cooks tips are down on days that she works
Read morePros: Great coffee, Good vegan options , Very tasty bake goods
Cons: Some of the music was terrible!, Atmosphere is grungy, Definitely for a younger crowd
Guest
smithkevinc
Points +300
Good food & atmosphere - Edit
I loved the atmosphere. Food was fairly standard breakfast fare. There are a lot of vegan options, which is a nice change. They take cash only.
Read morePros: Vegetarian , Good amount of vegan options , Atmosphere
Cons: Cash only
Guest
ineed_b12
Points +346
The MPLS version of the Chicago Diner - Edit
Hard times has been around for ages. While not fully vegan it does have an extensive vegan menu. Grungy vibe.
Read moreI haven’t been since COVID but they used to be cash only.
Pros: Extensive menu
Cons: Brunch, Cash only?
AmandaLackey
I agree. Similar to Chicago diner
Read moreGuest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business
See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 0 times.