Before commenting on the food taste and quality, I want to emphasize how important it is for this establishment to exist in such a neighborhood. Normally, daily Ethiopian food that's not in the US are vegan, so what is offered here is closer to what's authentically made in Ethiopian culture. I enjoyed pretty much all the dishes I had, and I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants good vegan food. My friends had the awaze tibs, which contained seitan, a high protein meat substitute, and it was seasoned very well, having an adequate amount of spice. I ordered the mushroom tibs, and it was okay, because it tasted as if the only seasoning was salt, and it was a bit dry, which indicated that the mushrooms were overcooked. In addition to such, we had a few veggies on the samplers, including miser, ater kik, gomen, fasolia, and keysir. They all had a good amount of seasoning and in general tasted good with the injera. I would say, though, that they may have all needed a bit more mekelesha, because I have had more vibrant-tasting versions of all of those veggies elsewhere. One thing worth noting was that shiro wasn't one of the options for the veggie sampler, so I had to order a separate portion of shiro, since I considered it necessary when consuming Ethiopian food in general, and it tasted good, in a conventional manner. It seems like per the menu that they have a shiro wot now, which indicates how popular it is among customers. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Lulu's is casual, family owned, and full of flavor![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I visited for the first time with friends who are vegetarian - and it was such a treat to be able to order anything on the menu and know that nothing would contain meat! The Wot and rice are the definition of comfort food, the falafel were crispy, and the mushrooms came out of the kitchen sizzling. Service was quick and incredibly kind. Next time you're looking for a new, vegetarian/vegan bite - definitely come to Lulu's! read more

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First time here at Lulus. Great vegan options, fills you up and tasty. Unique and authentic Ethiopian cuisine and drinks. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Really friendly staff and quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant very clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I went here with my partner and a friend on a weekday. This was actually my second time here. I think I'm a little less amazed on the second visit, but it's still good. I love that there is a vegan Ethiopian restaurant in the cities. While most Ethiopian places have a veggie platter, it's really cool to be able to try other dishes like Tibs even though I am vegetarian. The restaurant is on a fairly busy corner or lake street. Parking is a bit hard to find, but if you go later in the evening it seems like people park at the auto shop next door. I think there may also be parking behind the restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is fairly small. There's Ethiopian decor throughout and they also have a shelf where you can buy Ethiopian ingredients.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's very clearly a family affair, which I really like! It's good to support locals. I spoke to the owner and she mentioned that she was inspired to start the restaurant after her daughter became vegan over the pandemic. Her kids help with the restaurant at times as well! The menu has lots of options. We went for the veggie platter and the mushroom tibs. They were both good, but not amazing. I think they both needed some seasoning. The platter had a lot of options on it with a generous amount of injera but the majority of the dishes were undersalted. I've never had tibs before but they almost seemed like fajita. Really cool presentation, but again, needed more seasoning. We also got sambusas (not pictured). They were good -- nothing amazing. Interestingly, they were served with an Asian sauce. I'll likely go here again to try more things from the menu. That said, I do think there are other, better Ethiopian restaurants in the cities that have more flavorful veggie platters. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Veggie Sampler (Med) - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I really enjoyed my meal at Lulu's when visiting from Los Angeles. After the first day in Minneapolis I realized there was a large Somali presence in the city and knew I had to try Ethiopian food. The friend I was visiting with highly recommended this place so we walked over after a long day in the city. I didn't know what to expect, it was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine but the only way to truly experience a culture and it's people in my mind is through food. We ordered a variety of things but the thing that I truly keep day dreaming about is the spice tea! It was perfect for the 40 degree weather, full of flavor and gave me an extra boost of energy. This is a family owned business, and the service was incredible. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has a very local and homey feel to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will be thinking about that tea for months or until I can get my hands on something similar here in California. read more

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Amazing vegan food and amazing service :) [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place feels like a home away from home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff are very friendly and make you feel connected to them in a way that no chain restaurant can make you feel. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wow--vegan + Ethiopian?! I've been wishing for someplace like this for years! Lulu is very welcoming and the food is incredible! We missed Ethiopian food so much after moving back to the Midwest from the Bay Area, so this was such a pleasing find. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was clean, the decor was cute, and street parking was easy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was satisfactory and everyone was very kind. Highly recommend an appetizer + medium combination plate for two. The awaze tibs are to die for. Pro tip--take all the injera home that the food comes on and bake it in the oven (maybe 350-400F) until it is crispy--it's a delicious, chewy, crunchy treat. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We have been here twice now--the first time it was just us and one other table, and the second time it had clearly been "discovered" because it was completely full![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will be back! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Medium combo plate - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

On a weekend visit to Minneapolis, we discovered this place after leaving a local natural herbalist shop nearby. You just can't visit MN without having some Ethiopian food and what a wonderful food experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great customer service and the small, but quaint ambiance was perfect for our style and evening meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Give them a try and you will not be disappointed. read more

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What a great spot! Everything we've eaten here has been stellar. Some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a family business that made us feel at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't wait to go back. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Awesome intimate little place that serves unique Ethiopian food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner and her family are super nice and fun to talk to. I was glad to support their business in these tough times. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I came back here again and brought a date who had never tried this place. It's so fantastic. Something new we ordered was the Ethiopian coffee! Not only was it fantastic coffee but it came out with such a beautiful celebration, as if we were part of the coffee ceremony. We got the sambusas which were filled with lentils, veggies and spices along with a sweet dipping sauce. We ordered the large combo platter and had 6 different main courses onto try in the platter. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a beautiful natural light, very clean, and there are injera, spices, lentils and more for sale.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Even some vegan bakery items. My date and me are not vegan but we love this place so much. The owner is lovely and friendly and she was so attentive! Truly a gem of Minneapolis! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Combination platter large - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Good Ethiopian food in a bright and stark cafe setting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ordered a veggie combo and 2 drinks. The drinks were very thick and starchy, and so large that if you finished them, you'd be full on just that. The veggies ranged from lentils and beans to cabbage and beets. Made for a colorful platter, and each item was flavorful and fresh. It was served on a large spongy injera Also ordered an appetizer of foule dip that had great flavor, though the bread used to dip it in was pretty hearty. Would have preferred a different bread for this. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The lentils still have bite to them. That's what makes it 5*. I've eaten a good amount of Ethiopian food--back when I was still living in Upstate New York, I was in a city with 4 competing Ethiopian restaurants that kept each other honest. However, my complaint about some of those veggie platters was that a lot got soggy from having been kept warm for a while. Here at EthioVegan, the lentils and vegetables still had some bite to them. The dark lentils in berbere sauce were a particular highlight, as were the lentil sambusas. Both genuinely different and better than I've ever had before. The assortment of teas and the hefty portion of fitfit (salad with old injera) were also excellent. read more

The food was good and the coconut date was my favorite! My partner liked the plant based burger; it had a Smokey flavor we both enjoyed. I liked that you could get a platter with multiple dishes too. The service was incredible. Staff were passionate and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Smaller, intimate restaurant maybe 10 tables and there's parking around back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will definitely return. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan baklava & coconut date - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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If you want to take a culinary journey to a location outside your comfort zone Lulu's is a special treat. You know the place is good when you can't tell the difference between vegan and non vegan food. Lulu's Ethio Cuisine does a fantastic job at showcase vegan Ethiopian food in its full spectrum of flavors, and I am thoroughly impressed by the food quality here. This is only the 2nd time in my life that I've had Ethiopian food, so I'm no expert by any means in those matters, but textures, flavors, and taste are universal. And man, did it hit all the marks. The 4 piece sambusas were delicious. Crunchy exterior with "meaty" interior, which is flavored so well that I mistook it for meat but it's not! 5/5 would always recommend this option. The Ethiopian Spiced tea comes in a lovelt teapot, and the tea is light and not overwhelming. It's has a lovely scent as well, which is immediately noticeable when it was brought out, in a good way. 5/5 would recommend. The 4 veggie sampler is what I ordered simply because I could not figure out what I wanted for myself. The 4 veggies come on a soft pita and unlike European or Asian foods, you eat with your hands! They provide pitas for you to "scoop" the food into your mouths but this is the way to do it! Honestly, it's a different style of eating that I don't think I do very often, but it's fun and enjoyable if you're new and open minded. So the 4 veggies that I got were the Miser Wot, the Gomen, the Fasolia, and the Atkilt Wot. All were fantastic and deceptively filling, but I think the best one was the Miser Wot for being rich and filling. Personally it's not that spicy and I think most people can handle it, but here's what I would rank each dish: Miser Wot: 5/5 delicious, would recommend. Gomen: 4/5 Pretty good, nice filler for the other foods Fasolia: 4/5 Pretty good too, probably the best string beans I've had in awhile. Atkilt Wot: 4.5/5 Hardy, creamy, flavorful. I think Miser Wot edges it out though, still good. Overall, fantastic vegan place for both vegans and non vegan (the food is unironically good and different than your usual spots). 5/5 would recommend:) read more

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Lulu's has an unassuming store front on Franklin. Simply decorated, the quality of the food is evident the moment you step inside-smells so good and tastes even better. Ethiopian restaurants are typically a safe bet for vegans and vegetarians, but as a vegan restaurant Lulu's offers dishes you likely won't find elsewhere. PLUS your gluten free friends can order gluten-free injera. I tried the veggie sampler and selected Miser Wot (lentils with bebera sauce - my go-to dish at Ethiopian restaurants) , Gomen (sauteed collared greens), Fasolia (string beans and carrots) and Aitkin Wot (cabbage, carrots, potato in a curry sauce) . Everything was yummy - I eat Ethiopian food with some frequency and this was some of the best I've had in the Twin Cities. A lot of times Fasolia and Aitkin can be bland - not at Lola's. The right amount of spice and flavor. My companion ordered Mushroom tibs - heaping plate with rosemary. It was excellent. She also ordered the gluten free injera - which is barely distingushiable from gluten kind. It's a family restaurant, so the youngest son took our order, the daughter - LuLu, stopped by to explain a few dishes, and the mom, who's also the Chef also dropped by our table. They were all super sweet and attentive! I highly, highly recommend this place whether you're vegan or not. Such good food!! read more

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We came here on a recommendation from a friend. We had the sambusas, medium combo meal, and jebena coffee. Food came out relatively quick and the service was good. The sambusas were excellent and very fresh with a crispy shell, the medium combo was just the perfect amount of food for us (4 dishes - miser wot, ater kik, fasolia, and atkilt wot if memory serves correct), delightfully tangy injera, and a small fresh salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Coffee was excellent and finally woke us up for the day and the incense that came with it was lovely. I also love that they have a little shelf of pantry items for sale. Everything came to about $53 pre-tip and was more than enough to satisfy the two of us. Definitely recommend checking this place out whether you are vegan or not! read more

4.5/5 We stopped here with friends after finding this place on Happy Cow. I think this is my first time having Ethiopian food, I liked it! We got the largest sampler so we could try all the mains. I'm not a big spice person so I was glad that the sampler has many items that weren't spicy. It was great to try so much on the menu! I got the spiced tea which was lighter than I was expecting. Baklava was tasty! Fitfit's were good (we tried two, one of them was Lulu House), very unique. Sambusa's were tasty Extremely friendly staff, I would go back again to try more on the menu! Space inside is small but cute. read more

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This place is amazing. The food is excellent, the service is terrific, and the prices are really great. You can get a lot of excellent food for a very reasonable price point. Highly recommended! read more

Lulu EthioVegan is just amazing. TG is passionate about her craft, and it shows. We started with Ful - the coconut yogurt was a yummy addition - and then had the medium veggie sampler. Everything was perfectly prepared, presented, and enjoyed. If you're not vegan, don't pass this place by. TG doesn't have veggie-based "cheeses" that try to fool you. This is simply excellent Ethiopian cuisine that doesn't include meat, dairy, or eggs. But guess what? Its outstanding! Here's a picture of our sampler (collards, beets, cabbage, and split peas) on top of injira bread. We definitely plan to return!! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Veggie Sampler (Medium) - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The food was amazing. Were loved the combo platter with spicy lentils, yellow lentils with several other vegetable options.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Quiet little gem just off of Franklin Avenue with pleasant service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A nice variety of vegetarian goodness that offered an abundance of flavor. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Miser Wot (Spicy) Atkilt Wot Ater Kik Gomen - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Had a long layover in Minni & wanted to get some hearty authentic food. Lulu's satisfied every food craving I had. So many delicious flavors. I love Ethiopian food!! & the family (owners) were so kind to us. Intimate space but full of love! We came in right before it was about to close and they accommodated us. Try the veggie sampler family style it is so worth it. Highly recommend!! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Ethopian Spiced Tea - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Absolutely incredible vegan cuisine! [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the moment you walk in, the warm and inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food? Simply outstanding. The hot herbal tea? Delicious. And service was impeccable! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Coming from DC, I've had my fair share of Ethiopian food--some of the best in the country I dare say. Lulu's holds up to that standard, surprising and delighting tastebuds with little touches that make this menu standout. I only wish that we had more people with us so we could have tried more dishes! If you like mushrooms, the mushroom tibs is not to be missed. It came out sizzling and coated with incredible garlicly pepper flavors that paired so well with the veg sampler (med) which was plenty for 2. The collards, cabbage and red and yellow lentils were all delicious. Loved that they were prepared with well-balanced seasonings without much oil. We wrapped the plate (and the injera was fresh and bouncy, though I felt that we could have used more with the sampler). I'm glad we tried the Selba drink, which tasted like a toasted oat cookie in a glass, yummm. And felt soothing in the belly. Oh, and the sambusas are on point -- be sure to ask for the house hot sauce on the side. I'll return to try other specials and the baklava (they were sadly sold out)! The owners are an adorable family; kiddo served us and the chef came out and asked how we liked the dishes and shared her story with us too (including her time living in DC!). Delicious and family owned, everything made with love and care = a true gem. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is nice and seems like the owners are trying to make it welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They greeted us and made sure we were happy with our meal. The food was fresh. We missed some spice and we would have liked it to have more flavor. I love everything mushroom so I ordered mushroom tibs but it came pretty bland without any spices. Same applies to atkilt wot. The only flavoring option was a very spicy hot sauce. Maybe we should have gone with samplers to experience more flavors. The sambosas were the best thing we tried today. read more

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On a warm October Saturday morning, we met up with a friend for breakfast. She has food restrictions so we chose Lulu's Ethio Vegan Cuisine on Franklin and 1st Ave. I was apprehensive as this was only my second time trying Ethiopian food but it turned out to be a good choice. We didn't know they serve breakfast as their website didn't list a breakfast menu and we assumed we were going to order breakfast from the lunch/dinner menu so it was a delightfully delectable surprise! We asked Owner/Chef TG about it and she said it got missed but would be updated soon along with other changes they still have to do to the website. Located on Franklin, you turn into the alley then park in the back which is where we entered the restaurant. They also have a front entrance but there is no street parking on Franklin. As you open the restaurant doors, you're greeted warmly by the sun and the bright and lively colors of the decor while being embraced by the seductive smells of coffee and warm spices. There were palm fronds on the tables. We noticed there is more seating in a covered patio adjacent to the alley but the fall weather was not conducive to outside eating. Lulu's is coming up on its one-year anniversary in November. It's a family establishment, not a chain, so the chef's own family is involved throughout the week. Some days you'll be waited on by the chef's husband, children, or herself. We were served by the children who were very friendly and worked hard at their job but had trouble answering our questions about ingredients in the dishes and cultural traditions for the items we ordered. They referred us to Chef TG who was most helpful and knowledgeable. We ordered Ginger Tea, Spiced Tea, and Jebena Coffee to start. The Ginger Tea is made with fresh ginger yet it's not overpowering with its spiciness and the Spiced Tea had a warming effect from the blends of spices. My wife said she tasted subtle notes of cardamom, anise, and cinnamon but thinks there are more spices in it. Jebena Coffee is traditional Ethiopian coffee and Chef TG says she roasts the beans daily in the kitchen. It is presented in a ceramic carafe on an elevated platter accompanied by smokey incense and your cup. The faint smell of incense adds to the experience and taste of the coffee which looked thick and dark so I worried I would be over-caffeinated for the day, but it didn't happen. It tasted smooth and delicate with a light coffee aroma. It was an exciting and unique coffee experience for this Midwest dad who is a lifelong coffee drinker! Chef TG's skillful use of spices and herbs maximized the flavors and umami of her dishes which are also low in sodium. We discovered we didn't miss the salt at all because our meals were so well balanced with spices. For breakfast we ordered Ful, the Breakfast Combo, and Chechebsa. Our friend had the Ful which was creamy (from the fava beans) and slightly tart (from the tomatoes) which paired well with the pita and mini baguette. The side coconut yogurt cuts some of the creamy flavor in the Ful but it's a tasty palate cleanser on its own. Chef TG said this dish is traditionally eaten with bread but she offers pita as well because Americans are more familiar with this pairing. My wife had the Breakfast Combo (Firfir, Chechebsa, & Kinche) and enjoyed the range of flavors from the smokey sourness of the injera bread in the Firfir to the chewy bites in the Chechebsa. The Kinche was light and buttery which made for a nice palate cleanser with the other two dishes. She was so taken by the berbere, which is a spiced hot pepper powder, used in the Firfir that she asked for it alone so she can taste it to get the full smokey, savory umami of the chili confection. It's mildly spicey but all the flavors work well with each other. My wife took the small berbere sample home and made the most delicious simple tomato sandwich with it. Chef TG said she will offer it for retail purchase in the near future so look for it if you enjoy hot peppers! I had the Chechebsa which was also included in the Breakfast Combo my wife selected. The pieces of flatbread were chewy and well seasoned and not overly salty. My wife really enjoyed it and wished it had a little bit more sauce as it seems the bread soaked it all up. Given my MN upbringing, I am still teaching my taste buds to understand spices so my favorite dish was the Ful which I thought had flavors reminiscent of Pork and Beans, but while it did appear to have beans as an ingredient there was obviously no pork. I ordered Ful to go. In all, the flavors of the Ethiopian dishes were savory, delicate, and not overpowering. We liked the fact that there wasn't too much salt and oil in the recipes. Also, as a meat-eater I personally at no point missed meat and I came away from this meal full and very satisfied. We'll be back to try the lunch/dinner menu and we highly recommend this place! read more

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This is a fantastic new place here in Whittier! Easy walking distance from the MIA and Hennepin County Museum, too. People are often spooked when they see the food is outside of Europe, Eastern Asia, India, or Latin America - doubly so when they see it's vegan. It's time to dispel those fears because the food I had is bright and fulfilling. I had the Miser Wot, which had a nice kick - they call it spicy, but I think most could handle it - and an overall really well balanced mix of spices. It is earthy and complex and most closely reminds me of Morrocan, Spanish, Persian, and Indian cuisine if you wanted a comparison. I am not vegan or even vegetarian, but I did not miss the meat or dairy at all. If you like tea, the Ethiopian specialty they offer is fantastic! I'll definitely be back! read more

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Food was amazing! Can't wait to go back. We were hungry and it was perfect. Great favors! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - So good! - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Dinner was awesome. We had a delicious vegan dinner sampler and immensely enjoyed ourselves. We found everything was absolutely delicious. TG is an awesome chef. Don't miss your opportunity for authentic and delicious Ethiopian food. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

First time here, we're not from the area but it was in close proximity to where we were staying. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the atmosphere and decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was absolutely delicious! They have gluten free options for breads too so I got to indulge! Great service as well, it was a little slow night but very cozy nonetheless. Would come back here if I find myself here again! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]What a great place![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We chatted with the owner, and when we ordered the 4 item sampler, she gave my friend and I different items so we'd have 7-8 to try instead of just 4. The food was delicious, and the service was great (the owner's son). I'll be back! read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Sampler & salad - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The food was delicious! Even better than expected. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place livened up once a few more tables got situated for dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Such a great vegan find on our weekend visit to Minneapolis. The owner is so friendly and the food just divine!

This was an amazing find. Delicious gluten free vegan options. The staff is warm and welcoming. read more

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This place is amazing! The sunflower fitfit is one of the best dishes I have ever had. I definitely will return to Lulu's when I'm in town again. read more

do not smoke in your car in lulu's parking lot the service team banged on my car window before i came in interrupting me and my wife's smoke break. when i told the owner there was a bug in my water, he thought i was lying, and he said that he archived my license plate data so that if i came back and smoked in my car he would call the police. i told him, "call them" the behavior of lulu's service was not appropriate for my family's habits so we left read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

What a hidden gem in plain sight! The food is a generous portion of pure deliciousness. Healthy and fresh, too. Service was excellent and friendly. Next time I come back to Minneapolis, I know where I will get my first meal. read more

Lulu's EthioVegan Cuisine - Inside restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Delicious! The dishes are really well made and flavorful, and they give you plenty of injera with the sample platter. The menu has a good variety of different dishes, all vegan of course, and baklava for desert. I think there is probably something here for everyone! The interior of the restaurant is clean, bright, and intimate but not cramped. The place smells wonderfully of spices and cooking food. The person who took my order was very friendly and professional. I ordered to-go, and my food came out quickly, hot, and and without any trouble at all. I'm not an expert, but the prices all seemed reasonable for the portions of food you receive. There is a drink cooler with sodas and water, and there are traditional drinks that I'm excited to try! I'll definitely be coming back, and you should check it out yourself! read more

What a tasty meal. The lentil sambusa to the baklava it was all delicious. If you have been intrigued by plant based food this would be the perfect restaurant to start because flavor first must be their motto! read more