Vegan Road Trips

Vegan Road Trips

Road Trips from Milwaukee for Great Vegan Food

Sometimes you want to get out of town and try something new. Here are some destinations near Milwaukee for fantastic vegan food.

Pig Minds Brewing in Machesney Park, IL

This all vegan restaurant and brewery is definitely worth the 1.5 hr drive. Their menu is filled with amazing vegan comfort foods and a few healthier choices too. They also have a special brownie dessert you should not miss! Try out their different beers and stay awhile. If you’re looking to make a day of it, there’s the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens or Rock Cut State Park to explore nearby in Rockford.

Green Owl in Madison, WI

This all vegetarian restaurant in Madison is a great stop for brunch, lunch or dinner. They have a wide variety of offerings and excellent daily specials. 
​Madison has a booming vegan community, with lots of other restaurants offering vegan options:

Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
Fuegos
Willalby’s
Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace
Charlie’s on Main (Oregon)
Lilliana’s (Fitchburg)
Bandung Indonesian…and more!

Chicago Diner in Chicago, IL

“Meat Free Since ’83” is their tagline. This is a must-visit place for Midwest vegans. The diner has two locations on Halstead and Logan Square. Basically everything on their huge all-vegetarian menu can be made vegan. From radical reubens to incredible desserts and shakes, you need to experience this place!
​​​While you’re in Chicago, you’ll find a ton of vegan options including:

Chicago House of ‘Za
Upton’s Breakroom
Handlebar
Kal’ish
Kitchen 17
​​Native Foods
Soul Vegetarian
Veggie Grill
Ground Control
Sam & Gertie’s Vegan Jewish Deli
…and SO many more!

The Cheeze Factory in Baraboo, WI

With a location close to Wisconsin Dells, this is my absolute go-to place whenever I visit the Dells. I’ve been known to eat there all 3 days of my vacation in a row! The Cheeze Factory has gone through some changes over the years and even moved from the Dells to Baraboo, but this all-vegan restaurant is definitely a place you’ll want to check on your next trip out there. 

Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston, IL

This all-vegetarian restaurant offers a variety of unique dishes, desserts and bakery, with most of them available vegan. There are lots of fun shops, breweries and more in the college town of Northwestern University. See Downtown Evanston’s website for more info.

Herbivorous Butcher in Minneapolis, MN

They’ve been all over the news and even the Food Network, but you need to be there in person to appreciate this all-vegan butcher shop. They offer “all-vegan everything” from deli meats and cheeses to ribs and steaks. Bring a cooler and take some for the road or try some of their products around town, like the “Dirty Secret” from J. Selby’s that looks a lot like a Big Mac (see image below)! ​While you’re there, you’ll find the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is filled with vegan-friendly options:

J. Selby’s
Pizza Luce
Hard Times Cafe
Ethique Nouveau (vegan shop)
Galactic Pizza
Pizza Nea
Modern Times
French Meadow Cafe
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