mystical place with a lot of random things everywhere and artwork which I'm guessing is local artwork. Coffee is really good, and I enjoy this place a lot. Service was fantastic. Too great place to go and I look forward to go again. read more

Hard Times is a very expensive vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the Cedar Riverside portion of Minneapolis. They make some delicious vegan food (both super healthy dishes like hummus and veggies & rice, as well as some more indulgent dishes like biscuits and gravy). Their vegan pastries and deserts are TO DIE FOR, especially the peanut butter cups. The inside is very "80's coffee house" vibes. They have board games to play and there are even events from time to time. My one issue is that the bathrooms need a little bit of TLC. Otherwise, this place is great. read more

Hard Times Café - Veggies and rice...so good!!! - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Service was quick and they were attentive to my stated allergies which is so important They have a nice selection of vegan desserts. I purchased the chocolate chip cookie and a lemon scone. Breakfast treats for my 3 day stay. Please note cash only They have a combination of self service to the meal process. And you pick up your plates once done with your meal. My fajitas wonderful , the flavor profile had just the right balance of spice but the spicy crème made all the difference and I ordered a sandwich for my breakfast it looks amazing. I ordered the Vegan Bahn Mi it is so freaking good, I wish I had time to stop in again. read more

Hard Times Café - Binha sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This restaurant is vegetarian and vegan with gluten free options. They have classic diner cups of coffee with $1 refills. The cafe has a grunge dive feel- many tables that allow for one to sit awhile and read or play games. Cash only for payment! They have metered street parking for $1.00 an hour or a parking lot that is $3 for 2 hours when you cannot find metered parking. The service is fast. I wish they had gluten free bakery options though. They offer tofu if you do not want eggs and corn tortillas to replace bread for a GF option. read more

Hard Times Café - Helter Skeltor is a delicious hash brown, egg and veggies/cheese dish. Order corn tortillas for a gluten free option. - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I love that they always have a lil variety of vegan baked goods. I enjoy their vegan biscuits & gravy and meil drink most times lol they have additional food as well but haven't tried yet. Grunge vibe & cash only. Service has always been good and quick! read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan pistachio sugar cookie - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

**Avoid This Place - Not Worth the Visit** If you're on Yelp looking for a good place to eat, do yourself a favor and skip this spot. Trust me, you're better off choosing the other option. Here's why this place gets a thumbs down: **1. Food Quality - A Letdown** The food here is disappointing at best. They offer a lot of vegan options, but none of them hit the mark. My vegan Philly cheesesteak was dry and bland--no seasoning whatsoever, and it was practically crying out for some salt. Someone else in our group got the non-vegan breakfast plate, and it was the same story--bland, no flavor, and not a hint of seasoning. My girlfriend ordered the vegan Reuben and they actually served it with REAL cheese! How do you mess that up on a vegan sandwich? To his credit, the cook admitted his mistake, but that doesn't fix the fact that the food was mediocre at best. **2. Atmosphere - Unpleasant** The vibe here is off. It's grungy in a way that just feels gross, not the cool kind of grunge. The music was terrible--literally sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was so obnoxious we couldn't even focus on eating. The place is dirty, the bathroom door doesn't lock, and you'll probably trip over the entrance if you're not careful. **3. Weird, Annoying Rules** They make you write your order on a piece of paper and hand it to them, which is fine I guess, but they only accept cash. And then there's this weird thing where they want you to scrape your plate when you're done eating? Why? The whole experience just felt like a series of unnecessary, frustrating rules. This was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I've had. It's no surprise the staff always seem miserable--working in a place like this would probably suck too. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else. read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan philly, non-vegan breakfast plate, and vegan Reuben...trash. - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

VEGAN REVIEW I love that this place is so gritty & grungy! it reminds me of a 1990s college coffee house. the service is curt but efficient. had the reuben & a salad. very tasty. desserts looked great but I was just too full. read more

Super hipster spot located in cedar riverside aims to serves those who are vegan or tempted to try with their cool menu items. They do a great job making regular meals and vegan ones to match. My friend and I stopped in for breakfast and we both ordered the Vegan Heuveus rancheros. The dish was tasty but didn't mesh well together. I felt like their were certain seasonings that could've been included to elevate the dish. I have tasted Heuveus rancheros before so I know it isn't hard to recreate. I felt like the prices were a little high as well which I'm not a fan of when it comes to vegan dishes. They shouldn't be priced with regular items because the ingredients are different. The service was subpar for sure. Get you in and out. One thing I did like were the pastries and food items you could grab to go. I would return to try those. read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan Heuveus rancheros - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I went here all the time in college and it has a special place in my heart. Grungy, lots of tea options, cheaper vegan food options, and just a unique spot. Open late. Love them! read more

Absolutely wonderful!! When overwhelmed I can only do pros and cons Pros: great service, plenty of vegan delicious options, great service ( it matters so very much). They have community publications, they play punk music , they have vegan pastries, extensive menu, a clothing box. I'm visiting Minnesota and I will return back here while I'm visiting. Cons: they only take cash read more

Hard Times Café - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This was the home base for me and my sister during our recent trip to Minneapolis. I loved the grungy vibes and on our first visit they were playing death metal which warmed my heart. Lovely vegan baked goods. The raspberry chocolate chip muffin was fricking good. Vegan gyro was tasty and throughly enjoyed the vegan breakfast plate. Chill guys behind the counter each time I came. read more

I just have an amazing time here, I just have a raving thing for them! The vegan biscuits and gravy were just amazing. The service was friendly and the punky decor gave the place such a fun and lively atmosphere. We even caught live music while we were here, which made the evening even better. Super affordable prices, for an enjoyable time. read more

Cash-only, vegan-vegetarian, greasy-spoon diner vibe. Inexpensive and tasty - also filling. Service was prompt. Had not been here in years, look forward to returning soon! read more

I appreciate their low prices and their worker who do their best. The premise is you only pay in cash, write your order on a slip of paper, and they will make it immediately. Inside the Hard time cafe, I noticed that they have accommodating food choices. The pastries are vegan. The pankcakes I got one time was whole wheat. Personally that's not my favorite, so I didn't love the food or drinks I have gotten so far. But everything else about it is great. Places like this are for the people! Thank you for being open. read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan blueberry muffin and a chai latte - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We were looking for a cool and different vegan/vegetarian experience. Different, yes in that grunge-type way. Cool not really. Food, which sounded amazing was just meh. Clearly full of regulars so it fills their need. We were hoping for a new place to put on rotation but this wasn't it. read more

I've been a vegetarian for going on 17 years and was one of my best vegan meals I've ever had, especially for the price point. I had the Seitan Gyro and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. Everything was seasoned perfectly, the cut of the Seitan was superb and looked just like a lamb or beef gyro. The pita itself was soft and chewy and the sauce was perfect. I got a side of hummus and pita that was also amazing. My friend got the Reuben and really liked that as well. Atmosphere was very punk, fitting with the name. Service was pretty quick (very appreciated since we paid to park in one of the street parking spaces out front). Staff were friendly but not overly chatty (totally fine by me) SOME THINGS TO NOTE: When I went, it was cash only so be prepared for that. My meal ran around $15. You don't order at the counter. There is a stand with order slips near the menus on the wall. You fill out one slip per person and turn that in to the counter. I've read down and seen comments that this was confusing or unclear, but it seemed pretty intuitive to me. There are some steps leading into the building, but there's a button outside for folks who may have trouble with those. read more

Hard Times Café - Seitan Gyro - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I LOVED this place. The food was delicious and the ambiance was impeccable. I loved that there was the same meal in both vegan/non vegan options! I would 100% recommend this place to anyone read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan biscuit breakfast with mushroom gravy - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I just didn't love it. Hash browns were great. Scrambled tofu was good after I added salt, pepper, and hot sauce. The biscuit was soft and yummy. The gravy was thin and was a dinner gravy. Biscuits and gravy should come with a thick country or breakfast gravy. I really disliked their gravy. Sausage patty was decent; not bad, not outstanding or memorable in any way. The most disappointing was that pancake. Mine was overcooked so hard that I couldn't even cut it. Along with that $3 syrup *insert hard eye roll* this was a waste of my money. The Cherry Chocolate Chip muffins was excellent. I'm convinced they have mastered the vegan baked good, but not much else. But it could've just been an off day for the kitchen. Not saying I won't be back, but I won't go out of my way either. read more

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You aren't going to hard times for diner service, they make some delicious coffee, they have lots of tea and lots of food options and they are cheap. It's cash only. These days they have an atm in house and wifi. It's where you go for cheap but healthy and filling eats and strong ass coffee! read more

Hard Times Café - Mocha oh so good - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cash only! The food and pastries are amazing. Have loved them for years!! It's hardcore hipster vibes as you'd expect. Love it

Went to Hard Times for the first time in awhile. The menu is fantastic, ranging from authentic Middle Eastern to vegan, veggie laden choices, burritos, salads as well as traditional diner fare, with the exception that the plates are meat-free, using meat alternatives, however eggs and cheese are served. Service: semi-self serve, with the customer writing their orders and picking up at a window. Staff are attentive, easygoing, friendly and accommodating beyond belief; when i ruined my food using the wrong condiment (syrup instead of shoyu), they remade my order cheerfully and without charge. Ambiance: laid back, semi-grunge, pleasant and not too loud. The cafe is run by a collective who all look like they're happy to be here.​ read more

This place is exactly what it needs to be. A solid spot for honest food in an honest place. We came in for brunch on a Friday afternoon. I appreciate the low key ordering system - write it down on a slip and submit! Cash only BTW!! They do have an ATM on site. We got a big vegan pancake to share, classic breakfast, vegan Helter skelter and coffees. The food is fair in price. It's so nice to not have to figure out what I can get that's dairy-free, really pretty much have everything in normal form and then in vegan option. The dining space is so chill and a bit crunchy grungey, very much a college student vibe-- UMN is across the street. I love the free pile box and the fact that they compost too!! read more

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They are not wrong in naming it "hard times" I think they still goIng through it. I seen one of the waiters take a water pitcher to the bathroom and then came out with it full. Not to mention they charged 40 dollars for a taco but no meat cheese lettuce onions, or shell. read more

Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant that will appeal to meat eaters like myself. I had the Huevos Rancheros which was fantastic. The salsa is homemade and is the cherry on the sundae. Eggs had to be farm fresh as they were rich and flavorful. The pancakes were not to my liking. Probably because they were healthy instead of processed flour. read more

Hard Times Café - Huevos Rancheros - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The best place for nighttime coffee. Cash only but they have an ATM and they have good food and pastries. Good place to do work, to have a meal, or have a chill solo coffee. Good service and cool environment. read more

This place is pretty cool I wish there was a little bit more images reflecting the meals but I ordered the brown rice and Korean barbecue veggies and it was just that but with the sauce on the side, Nothing really flashy or special about my meal I honestly could've made this at home but hey it was worth a try the service however was amazing and very delightful so for that reason they deserve a four-star next time I'll just have to do a little bit more investigation when it comes to ordering read more

Hard Times Café - Brown rice and veggies with Korean BBQ sauce - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We absolutely LOVE Hard Times Café! Something for everyone in our family, especially the vegan, which is important, but also the picky eater and the keto eater too!! Their drink and baked goods are fantastic, their portions are HUGE, and the food is locally sourced where possible. Their hours are very accommodating, the local rotating art is cool, the prices are super reasonable. Bring cash, but if you forget (like we did today) there is an ATM. read more

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Barbie prefers to get with me during those Hard Times than during Flaccid Times. Can you blame her. I never really love the food here but it's pretty tasty considering that it's vegan and hipster at the same time (often a depressing combination, but combining any type of food with the word hipster is usually disastrous). The clientele is really interesting and fun and exactly what you would expect from a very cool trendy hippie place with vegan food. You can meet some really interesting and outside-the-box people here. The reason why I give it a solid four stars instead of the three which the food probably warrants - and the prices warrant - is that it's open until 4 a.m. and there's not a huge amount of options at that time of night around here, so I'm very appreciative of that, and we'll probably come here many more times for that fact alone. read more

Hard Times Café - Way better than Paramore - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A home away from home! I have spent so much time here over the years with friends. It's definitely a unique experience and not for everyone, but I love it. read more

Hard Times Café - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Good food and pastries. One of the best chai's here in twin cities (this and Uncommon ground have been my fav so far). Vibe is definitely something you should prepare for - cash only, dark grunge, environment first kinda place. Would recommend as a cool vegan spot :) read more

The food here is great, everything tastes fresh. It's a cool spot to hangout or get some work done. They make their own chai concentrate here and as a chai aficionado I can vouch it's some of the best. I don't usually drink chai lattes as most places use boxed big brand overly sweetened chai juice but I can enjoy one here! The counter staff have been very friendly for the most part and some have gone above and beyond to help me out. Beware this place is cash only. read more

My absolute favorite place to study! Huge portions, great vibes, good coffee & great service!

I went here as a vegan along with vegetarians and a meat eater. We all thought it was great! I got the vegan biscuits and gravy and I believe it was the Philly- both ridiculously good. Plus the atmosphere is so nice. I'm obsessed! Oh, and before I left i bought a couple desserts. The vegan lime cookie was the best cookie I've ever consumed - vegan or not. I was literally in heaven! read more

Just assholes honestly...I wrote my order on the back of the paper they gave you and they didn't make my plate because it was written on the wrong side. They make their customers feel like idiots for just making a mistake. Their system is confusing to begin with, so if you've never been there, be prepared to be treated like shit. read more

Me an my friend eat here she complained on how dirty an unprofessional it looked and didn't even eat, I just ate the biscuits and gravy but I been back 3 times by myself food is great music is great an people where to read more

A vegetarian cafe serving up tasty and affordable eats. Semi-self serve but cooked to order. Mark down your menu choices and hand the slip to the cashier, pick up your food at the counter once cooked, eat, and bus your dishes. I had the vegetarian biscuits and gravy, which was stick-to-your-ribs diner food done well. The gravy had a good consistency, plenty of mushrooms, and wasn't too salty. The biscuits were giant and both fluffy and hefty. The biscuits and gravy were topped with fresh tomatoes and green onions, providing a nice counterpoint to the richness of the meal. I left a satisfied customer - full belly and not too big a dent in my wallet. I really enjoyed the vibe here. Not a sparkly clean cafe, but a lived in space with subcultural appeal. It was great seeing all the high school age punk rock and indie kids file in to get their grub and hang out in a welcoming, all ages place. I would have loved a place like this in my neighborhood growing up. Come support this awesome local business serving up interesting and cheap eats for all types of folks! read more

Hard Times Café - Vegetarian biscuits and gravy. Delicious and reasonably priced - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Absolutely delicious vegan and vegetarian food. It's a eclectic hole in the wall that offers one of the largest vegan and vegetarian options I've seen! As you walk in there is the counter with juices, coffees, and pastries. Even some gluten free options. I got the gluten free peanut butter cookie was was super delicious. Once you walk up to the counter, you can grab a menu and chose where you would like to sit. They give you a cute sheet where you write your name, and what yuh want to eat. They are cash only but have an ATM if you do not have cash. You walk back up to the counter to drop off your order and the chef will clearly and enthusiastically yell your name when it is ready. I ordered the soy chai latte, gluten free peanut butter, and vegan helter skelter. The chai latte was delicious. The helter skelter was everything! Such a large portion with really delicious vegetables and pieces of fried tofu and hash browns. Will be back again! read more

Hard Times Café - Vegan helter skelter and soy milk - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Agh--still trying to make up my mind about this place! I guess the fact that I'm still thinking about it means it deserves a 4 instead of 3, right? I work nearby on West Bank U of M so this place seemed like a good stop for a later breakfast before heading into work. My experience was an interesting one: I walked in and see the menu posted on the wall opposite the counter. You're supposed to apparently take a sheet of paper, write down what you want and the price (kinda wasteful of paper) --there are no pens so you better have your own--and then give it to the barista. I brought up my order and joked that I hoped I did it right, and the barista did not find that amusing. These guys looked intense--Hard Times is rightfully named, I guess? I didn't realize they're cash only (rather inconvenient these days), so had to go over to the bank a few buildings down and get cash to pay. Barista also did not find THIS funny. Service probably deserves a 2/5, but everything else kinda makes up for it. They had tons of vegan and vegetarian and gluten free options which I LOVED. Instead of bread, I was able to get corn tortillas as a side! Really impressive inclusive menu. I ordered a half order of the loaded hash browns dish (can't remember the fun name for it), and that was like $6. Iced Chai was around $2.50. Both didn't take long. Half order of my breakfast dish was HUGE--I took more than half home! I don't think they have to go boxes (heads up), but I had my own to use. The dish was delicious--was not expecting to see so many veggie colors and fresh food in a quirky cafe! It was hash browns topped with cheese and scrambled egg and tons of veggies: tomatoes, fresh broccoli, cauliflower, etc. So yummy! Needed a bit of seasoning, but that's what hot sauce is for, right? Chef was a bit crabby with people that didn't come pick up their food order right away. Again, service is kind of lacking here, but they kinda get away with it because it creates a certain kind of atmosphere. Like the Dicks Last Resort restaurants where the waiters are purposefully mean to you! Chai was on point. Delicious. I loved both my items, and would definitely come back again. They're open all the time, and breakfast is served all day. read more

Hard Times Café - Cafes Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

3.5/5 My husband and I were one of the dummies that ordered here not reading the signs that they are cash only... Thankfully a kind gentlemen behind us helped us afford our meals. I love the interior. The decorations and the cozy atmosphere is so lax and comforting. I would love to eat here again. Though we weren't wowed by our food, I love their mission and community read more

This place has been my favorite since quarantine ended, I've brought my family and friends along for the ride and they are so excited for the food read more