How to Eat Vegan and Gluten Free in Milwaukee, WI, USA

As a vegan who also has celiac disease, I know how stressful visiting a new city can be.

I moved to Wisconsin in 2020 and have visited Milwaukee multiple times. I’ve done my own research and can tell you which restaurants I feel confident recommending.

Whether you’re visiting Milwaukee or moving there, these tips will help you navigate eating as a gluten free vegan.

Map showing Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, and surrounding cities

Does Milwaukee, WI have vegan and gluten free options?

Yes! You can eat vegan and gluten free in Milwaukee, WI. There are many restaurants downtown and in nearby suburbs.

Unfortunately only one is dedicated gluten free and vegan. Despite this, a lot of restaurants train their staff well and are knowledgeable about gluten and celiac disease.

If you are visiting Milwaukee, you won’t have to repeat any restaurants unless you want to.

Continue reading to learn about the best vegan and gluten free restaurants in Milwaukee.

What are the best vegan and gluten free restaurants in Milwaukee, WI?

These are the best restaurants to get vegan and gluten free food in Milwaukee, in no particular order. I have contacted each of these restaurants personally and have asked about their options and preparation. These restaurants are included in the map above.

These are recommendations based on my experiences, please use your best judgment when choosing a new restaurant.

• Blooming Lotus Bakery

  • Dedicated vegan and gluten free

• Bollywood Grill

  • Lots of vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Use separate pans and utensils

  • Take extra precautions

  • Have many customers with allergies

• Odd Duck

  • Many vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Dedicated vegan and gluten free fryer

  • Have many customers with allergies

  • New menu every day (always have vegan and gluten free options)

  • Staff always recommend reservations

  • All of their ingredients come from small, local farms

  • Be aware they have foie gras on the menu

• Café Corazón

  • Multiple vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff are trained on cross contamination

  • Use clean surfaces and utensils

  • Vegan menu, gluten free items are marked

  • Can get corn tortillas

  • Offer vegan and gluten free soup

• Beerline Cafe

  • Many vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Have separate griddles for allergies

  • Gluten free bread brand is Little Northern Bakehouse (which is vegan)

  • Everything can be made vegan and gluten free except the pancakes, lentil wrap, and mushroom barley burger

• Stack’d Burger Bar

  • Vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Use gloves, clean pans and surfaces

  • Take extra precautions

  • Dedicated gluten free fryer

• Balzac

  • A couple vegan options

  • Most menu items are, or can be made, gluten free

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Take extra precautions for allergies

  • Hostess confirmed questions with chefs

• Centraal Grand Café & Tappery

  • Vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained in cross contamination

  • Gluten free and vegan menus

  • Use Udi’s buns (which aren’t vegan) but you can ask staff to make a lettuce wrap instead

• Shahrazad Persian / Middle Eastern Cuisine

  • Vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Food prepared in separate areas with clean surfaces

• Mekong Cafe

  • Most items can be made vegan and gluten free

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Food prepared on sanitized surfaces

  • Carry out only

• HAD’s Indian Cuisine

  • Vegan and gluten free options

  • V on the menu stands for vegetarian but most of these are actually vegan

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Take extra precautions for allergies

  • Use clean surfaces

  • Dedicated gluten free fryer

  • Buffet from 11:30 - 3:00, dinner menu from 5:00 - 10:00

    • I recommend dinner and not the buffet

• Cubanitas

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Only options are a salad or veggie bowl with no sour cream or plantains

• Black Sheep MKE

  • A couple vegan and gluten free options

  • Staff are trained on cross contamination

  • Use clean pans and utensils

• Miss Molly’s Cafe & Pastry Shop

  • A few menu items are vegan and gluten free

  • One gluten free vegan bakery item

  • Staff trained on cross contamination

  • Take precautions and sanitize surfaces

  • Use Udi’s bread (which is not vegan)

• Sip & Purr Cat Café

  • Vegan and gluten free drink options

  • No menu items are both vegan and gluten free

  • Staff recommend reservations for the cat lounge

• Chipotle

  • Assembly line style and chain restaurant

  • The only things that are not gluten free are the tortillas

  • Chips are gluten free but have a possibility of cross contamination

View of downtown Milwaukee, WI

Notify Staff

You should always double check a restaurant’s menu and share your dietary needs with restaurant staff. This ensures they will prepare your food in a designated allergen free area or take extra precautions while preparing it.

If you are watching someone prepare your food at a restaurant like Chipotle for example, I ask them to change their gloves to minimize cross contamination from any previous orders.

For my steps on how I find vegan and gluten free food, check out my article linked below.

Related: Step By Step Guide to Finding Vegan and Gluten Free Food Options

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Is it hard to be vegan and gluten free in Milwaukee, WI?

Not at all. I don’t think you will find much trouble being vegan and gluten free in Milwaukee. There are a lot of restaurants with options and so many different styles.

The only downside is that only one bakery is dedicated vegan and gluten free. I wasn’t able to find any other restaurants that are dedicated gluten free and have vegan options, or vice versa.

Many restaurants train their staff about celiac disease and cross contamination well. Many of the restaurants I contacted said they frequently have customers with allergies.

If you will be visiting Milwaukee and are concerned about options or safety, you can always get ingredients to make your own meals at the grocery store.

Historic 3rd ward in Milwaukee

What are the best grocery stores for vegan and gluten free food in Milwaukee, WI?

Most grocery stores you in Milwaukee will have a few vegan and gluten free items. You will always be able to get fresh fruits and vegetables. For prepackaged products, some stores have more options than others.

• Woodman’s

• Festival Foods

• Pick N Save

• Whole Foods

• Fresh Thyme Market

Search for products

You can always search the specific store’s inventory before you go to see what options they have. I would select the specific store to make sure they have what you’re looking for in stock.

You are able to search the products available at each of these stores either on their website or app.

What are some of the best places to visit in Milwaukee, WI?

If you are visiting Milwaukee, this is a list of a few other popular locations to check out.

View of Milwaukee Art Museum from Pier Wisconsin Cruise Dock

• Milwaukee Art Museum

• American Family Field

• Mitchell Park Domes

• Basilica of Saint Josaphat

• Historic Third Ward

• Boerner Botanical Gardens

• Milwaukee Public Market

• Lake Park

• Bradford Beach

• Oak Leaf Trail
  

Do you have any tips or restaurants I didn’t include? What’s your favorite vegan and gluten free restaurant in Milwaukee? Leave a comment below!