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.
110 Reviews
First Review by condekedar
condekedar
Points +9997
One-of-a-kind awesome - Edit
Hard Times is the ultimate punk-rock all-night vegetarian cafe and restaurant. At any given moment expect to see intellectual punkers, hobos with coffee, and everyday folks playing chess. The atmosphere is pure 1970s grunge, with a kick. The music is a bit too loud, but tolerable; the food is well-priced and tasty, with various comfort-foods, gyros, tacos, burgers, hummus and desserts. They can make pretty much anything vegan and everything is vegetarian. Waits for food are long and the service isn't the friendliest, but it's crisp and mostly efficient. Come to Hard Times for the food and the vibe. It's a Minneapolis institution.
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Food, Open 6 a.m.-4 a.m.
Cons: Loud music, Curt service, No parking
Guest
debauchero
Points +493
Hard Times Happen - Edit
[Here’s a quick noob-torial, should you look as lost as I did upon my first time here.]
Read more-First, watch your bloody step.
-Once past the threshold, take an order slip and menu from the front podium and find a temporary seat in the dining room.
-Write your choice on the slip and your name at the bottom - one name and order per ticket.
-Submit back at the counter, where you’ll be asked if you fancy anything to drink. (Hot tip: A cup of black coffee steadfastly defies inflation at $1 per cup. Take that, stupid inflation.)
-Armed with your drink of choice, claim a spot from which to devour your incoming order.
[Thank you, this concludes the tutorial.]
My vantage was ideal and the biscuits & gravy were ribstickingly good. It was at this stage, sipping joe from a brown bell mug, absorbing caffeine and surroundings, it hit me that I do believe this place is perfect. The haphazard seating in middle morning was occupied by a motley mix of students clacking away on laptops and old-guard intellectuals scribbling on notepads. At the counter, an elderly lady bought a pack of smokes. A shrine in back bore names of, and notes for, dear friends departed too soon. And the air resonated with softly stated punk rock. Breakfast punk rock.
I took it all in, and felt myself catching feelings for the Hard Times Cafe, this urban creature so seemingly symbiotic with the city’s beating heart. I happened upon a truly unaffected and unapologetic community bastion, no doubt a “third place” to aid many just going through the motions.
Being alive means that hard times will happen. This particular one though, I look forward to going through again.
Updated from previous review on 2026-02-19
Guest
SteveCoxon
Points +144
Classic, tasty - Edit
Reminds me of the best of 90s era veg restaurants. Great value, quantity and quality. Had the Seiten Philly sub vegan cheese. Fantastic!
Read moreWrite your own order and pay cash up front.
Pros: Seiten philly, Worker owned
Guest
talakoala
Points +1277
Loved this place - Edit
The food was good, the place is great. Really enjoyed it
Read moreGuest
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 +891
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 +212
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 +266
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 +5139
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 +5077
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 +328
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 +510
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 +457
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 +1806
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 +120
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 +2325
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 +87
Classic vege place - Edit
Always a good spot to drop in after a night out
Read moreGuest
Cheyenne2116
Points +132
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
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