Hard Times Cafe Reviews

Unassuming venue with a punk rock theme. Don't expect amazing service, but the portions and the price are often generous. They are counter service and cash only, so be prepared. Decent vegetarian and vegan options too.

I've been coming to Hard Times since 2004 and it hasn't changed. Still good food at hard times prices, great staff and hang out spot!!

Great coffee. Kinda grungy, but in an atmospheric way. Cash only.

It's a great place to eat where you feel among liberal friends.

Because like a good neighbor Hardtimez was there...

This was a cool spot to hang out when I visited MPLS for a conference. Affordable and cozy

Loved my visit to this place laid back atmosphere and great vegan options!!

Best food ive ever eaten; i had the Huevos Rancheros, with hummus and pita bread. Everything is so fresh and made right there. Also, they're open late, which is always awesome

Disgustingly beautiful. If you ever want a place to disappear and relax... Here it is.

When I worked in the area, I came to Hard Times for excellent lunch menus. Never been excited about borsht until coming here. Their nachos platter is a wonderful social food. The evening patronage is extremely image-conscious, however, and can make you feel very unwelcome.

The atmosphere is really unique, they've got falafel, and their open all the time- I couldn't ask for more

Best place to chill eat great affordable food and play some board games! If you are a true Minneapolis resident you've probably already been there

Ordering is a little obtuse and cash only makes it even worse. The food and drink selection is great though.

Great breakfast spot with only vegan and vegetarian food.

I love the authenticity of the place. It might be a little intimidating when you first go in but don't be nervous. The cashier can come off as rude but he is really nice and loves joking around (every time I go it is the same guy). I'm pretty sure all meals are vegetarian with most also being vegan but you would have to check their website.

So you don't get ostracized when you try and order. It is CASH only. When ordering off the menu, you need to get a slip of paper on the left side of the pastry display case which is also next to the menus which you can grab. Bring it to a table to check the menu unless you know what you want right away. Write down your order (one per ticket) with your name and price. Get your money out and give him the ticket and money. They will call your name when it is ready.

If you want a drink or pastry just tell the cashier with the money ready. No ticket required (at least I'm pretty sure of this).

I've had the biscuits and gravy, and huevos rancheros both of which are delicious! The hot chocolate with hemp milk was delicious and creamy.

There is no parking for the building but there are ramps, public lots, and street parking close by.

This is my go to place late at night, enjoy!

Great food for an affordable price. Always straightforward and reliable food quality.

Hard Times Cafe (Urban Peasant, Global Cafe & The Expatriate before it) have been staples of the west bank for generations. I heard about the blueberry muffins long before I visited. Was not disappointed. The coffee is french press. This is 3 steps in front of anything you could even dream of from a corporate coffee stoop.

The food is modestly priced, well made, and filling. Helter Skelter, biscuits & gravy with eggs, tofu scramble, & bagel sandwich are old standbys. Hard times is open all hours, and represents as a true worker-owned co-op. (I love Wedge & Seward grocery, but they are technically corporations ).

Hard Times Cafe is a place that legitimately respects people.

Recent troll behavior has tried to deny HTC the most basic american business law/right. In america, businesses reserve the right to refuse service. Anyone who says different is anti american, and anti constitution. I wish the tired, confused & stubborn right wing bigots would get out of my country, or adhere to the law of the land (see also: separation of church and state).

Cool staff, cool customers. I love how late they are open, loved the all day breakfast, loved the amount of wall outlets there are to charge my laptop. Very friendly place to chill for a few hours. I loved the vegan options! So many things to choose from. I also had a really good Kombucha. Don't go here if you are afraid of hippies, cultural diversity or trying something new. Do go here if you are adventurous and want to try something new.

I grew up here and love that the experience is the same today as it was almost 30 years ago. Such a diverse snd eclectic community that surrounds and encompasses this cafe.

Great food Everytime for the last 20 years. It's a must have in any city

I was so excited to try this cafe for its vegetarian/vegan options but was thoroughly disappointed. Yes, they are a great place to get these options, but if you are willing to eat food with very little flavor, then this is the place for you. I had their vegan vegetable rice bowl and my husband had the falafel platter. My dish was vegetables on a grill with no spices included. They thankfully added a lemon on the side so then it had some flavor after I added that, but if that wouldn't have been there, I would have taken it home and seasoned it myself to eat. My husband's falafel had little flavor and was not worth the money. I will not be going here ever again.

This is the greatest destination to meet with the eclectic elite.
In my travels you will rarely met people who believe as much as
they do that they are the change they seek in this existence.
Keep flying that freak flag.

Delicious food, good prices and mostly vegetarian with vegan and gluten free options as well.

I eat here as often as possible. Best vegetarian restaurant in Minneapolis. Unbelievable value. Huge menu. Diverse clientele... Love it.

It's a punk rock vegetarian/vegan cash only cafe with no wifi. That may or may not be your thing. I love it!! It's truly a stellar piece of Minneapolis and I hope they stick around forever. Great place to read or write. Also a great place to cap off a night out if you have the drunchies. Open late with lot parking that is pretty cheap.

Cheap French-pressed coffee and loud music. Attracts a certain crowd.
Only complaint is no Wi-Fi

The food was okay, if a little unseasoned - nothing that couldn't be fixed. The coffee and tea were alright too.

Most other customers seemed to be students - which is great if you're a student or want to be around a younger/ similar aged crowd, but might not be what some people prefer.
The prices were super reasonable and I feel that's my favourite part. Just be warned that they only accept cash! It was a good thing I had some on me - credit cards are a no go.

The only reason I'm giving them a four star rating is because somehow I felt like the ambience and the atmosphere looked very manufactured. There was this feeling like they were trying too hard to be cool and 'hipster'y which just seemed a little odd.
Overall - the food, drinks and the $$$ were fabulous though!

I went there once a couple of years ago and will probably never go back. The atmosphere is dark and punk and the furniture seems to come from thrift stores, which is fine with me. My big problem was the rude staff. I walk in and there's no sign saying what to do, like "Wait to be seated" or "Seat yourself" or "Order here". So I look at the menu on the wall for a minute. There's just one guy behind the counter and he's ignoring me. I walk up to the counter and he keeps fiddling around back there and not saying anything. Finally, I spoke up and asked if I could get a cup of coffee and some chili. Then he asks for my ticket. He gets rude and sarcastic about how if I want some food, I need to fill out the ticket. So not only is there this bizarro-world food ordering system where the customer is supposed to write it down on the notepad and then hand it over, the guy is acting like I'm some kind of dumbass for not already knowing what to do. Anyway, the coffee was strong but nothing special, and the chili was just okay.

good cheap semi-greasy spoon diner food. the staff has this punk vibe going on and don't believe in being nice but thats fine as long as the foods bomb.

Cheap and delicious, great variety of vegan and vegetarian food. Quality coffee. Staff can be a bit scary sometimes, as well as the customers, but, it is worth hitting if you are hungry. Biggest bummer is that they do not take credit or debit cards, cash only. I would eat there more often if it didn't involve a trip to an ATM first.

Great vegan options and never fails to hit the spot. Cool restaurant model (order at counter on paper, pay, and then pick a table and chill for maybe 10 min)

Fast Window service! Unique outdoor patio seating! Great vegetarian meals. Worker owned cooperative.

As a vegetarian, it's kind of hard to find a place where I can eat almost everything off of the menu, so this place was such a nice find, especially with it being so close to West Bank and the UMN campus. I got the (full size) quesadilla and vegan blueberry muffin and both were amazing, but also, really stinking big, with more than enough for 2 meals for just under $11. It's a really cool vibe too, and they have board games!! Ordering is a tad different, where they have the menu close to the door and then you write down your own order on a meal ticket located by the coffee bar by the door and then hand to the cashier. Also, note that the place is cash only! Overall, a great local place that I definitely plan on coming back to!

Really strong and robust French press coffee. Delicious food, I recommend the quesadilla or biscuits and gravy. Engaging atmosphere with games and lots of art on the walls. It s truly a gem.

I've been patronizing Hard Times for over ten years, and will continue to do so. I love the atmosphere, the cheap & tasty vegan food, and their mission. To have a place who doesn't stand down from their ethics is much appreciated and noticed. Keep doing what you're doing!

Unique atmosphere with lots of vegan food and pretty good coffee

Love their food, staff, and their stand against hateful beliefs. Kudos to them!

Great quiet place for a Sunday brunch. i was visiting town from Detroit and loved the charm of this funky hassle-free cash-only vegetarian place.

Quick rundown of the process: 1) Grab a menu and a food ticket as you walk in, 2)sit down and write down your ticket, 3) then bring it up to the barista/cashier and pay for your food with whatever drinks or baked goods you're getting 4) listen for your order being put out at the window

The food was phenomenal and exceeded expectations. I had the best biscuits and mushroom gravy, and my eyes were bigger than my stomach when i also ordered the huge pancake that was bigger than my head.

If I'm ever in Minneapolis again, I know I'll be back!

Amazing food, with solid vegan and veggie options, and affordable too. My favor menu items are their migas and the black bean quesadilla, the biscuits and gravy are also super tasty. The baked goods are made of magic, the muffins the size of your head, the slayer bars are to die for. Hard times was of my favorite places to go before I moved to Minnesota and now one of my favorite places to go on the regular now that I live here. Perfect for breakfast with a friend, a work session, or just to swing by for a baked treat.

If you miss the wavy signs and work shift reminders, this place is for you. Vegan helter skelter. Games. Grooves. And the anti establishment New York Times.

Fast service, an aesthetic appeal with it's rustic wood interior. Oh and a great cup of Joe.

Always have great food. Honestly love their soups the most. Great, simple service. Chillest vibes.

Full of dirty punks! Run by some kind of scary motorcycle gang. Most of the customers are on drugs. Good times.

I wanted to take off a star due to it being cash only and having such a clunky ordering process but the atmosphere and the food are just too good to give it anything short of 5.

Love this place. They have been in business for decades. Great food - fresh and tasty. Interesting characters and conversation. Some of my best days have been spent there drinking coffee and experiencing the community that is the HardTimes.

There's a urbane vibe where authentic negativity is normal. A lot of places like that exist in the city. Unfortunately it veered into abusive when I was there. Made a couple of mistakes ordering, and I was ridiculed several times. Said, 'just relax' (my mistake). While I was on the phone to get clarification from my son on his order, irate clerk decided to refuse service, expletives, etc.

Very bad customer service. One of the employes at the counter (bigger guy with a beard) was very rude and not nice. He was also very mean to another customer who after receiving many rude comments politely reached for his tip back when the guy grabed the jar and chucked it at his face while swearing and yelling. The guy was terrified so he left the dollar and ran out. The food was on the greasy side but had large portions for cheap.

This place is such a little hole in the wall, but the Vegan options are amazing. Huge portions for a small price!

A very interesting place to eat, especially late at night with friends! It's cash only so make sure to have a good amount with you, but they do have an ATM at the front if you forget. Very accommodating for vegans and vegetarians, but even as someone who doesn't normally like vegan food, their vegan muffins are so yummy (and filling!). They also have a really good selection of loose teas and everything is at a pretty fair price! Overall a good place to eat!

I love this place. The food and beverages are amazing and cheap with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. The staff is fast but definitely have that punk dgaf attitude which gives the place it s charm.

One of the best restaurants in town, and killer coffee.

The perfect coffee shop. Great espresso, pretty good pastries, policies of kindness, fantastic music, late hours, early hours, and outlets so I can stay for hours.

Strong coffee, great vegetarian food at the most affordable prices in the city. Long time standing, and not without a fight. Collectively run, almost 24 hours. CASH ONLY!

I love this restaurant!! Most affordable vegan/vegetarian food in the cities with a huge variety of menu items and absolutely NONE of their food disappoints. Also, breakfast is served all day. You're welcome.

Food was good. Playing old surfers on the turntable made my day

I love, love, love The Hard times Cafe!!!!!!! If you have not checked it out it is a must try situation. Food, coffee, fresh bakery items, awesome atmosphere are all legit.

Delicious vegetarian food at a reasonable price. They have an extensive menu and good coffee. The restaurant itself is decorated woth art from local(I think) artosts and in general they have a grungy alternative atmosphere. BRING CASH and don't forget to tip the workers. The music is selected by whoever is working and it's almost always something new, so go with an open mind.

Amazing, freshly cooked food. Wonderful, friendly staff. The cashier is so nice! The tasty vegan options are the reason enough to stop by this place. Coming from Duluth MN, vegan restaurants aren't really an option here. Great variety of items on the menu. YuM!

Delicious food, great staff, a family-friendly vegetarian dining experience with STRONG coffee!

Excellent Vegan Food! Large portions for a good price! Highly recommended. :)

Are you a broke college punk you'll love this place!

Fair priced delicious food, do not recommend going past 10pm though because the crowd gets sketchy.

I've been coming here for more than 25 years. I've never disliked a thing about the place. The staff, the customers, the neighborhood are all perfect and should preserved in amber. New things frighten me. Where can we find enough tree sap and time?

Hard times deleted my old review, however, their soup gave me food poisoning, but never their biscuits and gravy.

No meat, no credit cards and best of all, no MAGA s.
Their mushroom gravy is incredible and their pancakes can t be beat.
My family and I love Hard Times Cafe.
And we vote

Best vegan/vegetarian join in town.

Hours are Monday-Sunday 6AM - 4AM (only closed from 4-6 AM). Even open on holidays!

Please be prepared for cash only!

Misleading name. I've had nothing but good times every occasion eating here. They offer a sweet place to hangout and play games. A half order of delicious biscuits and gravy is enough to fill most people and costs a mere three dollars and some change. Make sure you have cash!

Probably the most bizarre place I ve ever been. I am no fuddy duddy at all and appreciate character but I was freaked out by the people in this place and the disturbing dark brainwashing music that was blasting at 10am. The food was fast but order was wrong and it was ok tasting. I didn t complain, just wanted to get the f outta there...ohhh! And there was a murder outside this place the day after I came. Eeeek!!

An absolute must in Minneapolis! Great coffee, friendly atmosphere and spacious dining.
I've never felt safer in a big city than surrounded by the amazing staff and patrons

Good Vegan and Vegetarian food but way to loud. The cashier could not even hear my order due to disorienting music. I could see a sigh of relief in the patrons when the music would stop for a few seconds. Definitely saw the cook eating and not wash his hands before preparing my food. Glad I'm not squeamish. Oh, and they do not accept credit cards. Perfect place for a millennial douchebag trust fund hipster.

I love this place. It is one of my hangouts. The quality of their coffee is amazing. I frequently get the iced mocha with soy milk and it far surpasses most other coffee shops. I think their menu of food is very good as well. I often get either their hummus platter, falafel platter, or their french toast. Their french toast has a touch of cinnamon seasoning in it although it does take them a while to make it but its soooo worth the wait and you can get it with real maple syrup. The hummus platter however is 5.50 and is *huge*. It is large enough that you really would need to bring a friend if you get it because its enormous. I shared it with my boyfriend and we were both full by the end of it. My bf is partial to their biscuits and gravy and i think they're decent and are okay for a quick bite to eat in the morning and its 3 dollars for a half order (you probably won't need more than that). I may sound like i'm raving about it but I do have a few complaints. 1. you can't get half orders on many items and the portions are *huge*. 2. the decor is a little run down due to age of the interior however I have not seen any of the remodeling work that closed them for two weeks and once I have, I'll update it, and 3. the bathrooms can be awful. That being said.....once it re-opens, i'll be back.

Tasty late-night food, but my coworker and I got sick for 24 hours following. And this was the only thing in common in our consumption because he had just flown in and met me. Maybe some veggie wasn't washed or whatever. It happens.

College town icon. Loved the gritty homegrown atmosphere. They are putting their values to excellent use. Good food for a fair price. Music made it.

Condescending staff, appropriative decor and watery meaning.