A Gluten Free Vegan’s Review of Sookie’s Veggie Burgers in Madison, WI
Sookie’s Veggie Burgers is a dedicated vegan burger restaurant on State Street in Madison, WI. Originally starting as a food trailer in Milwaukee, John McCune opened the permanent Madison location in March of 2022.
All of their packaging is biodegradable and they are focused on creating more sustainable food options. They also use many locally made ingredients.
They have food for every meal of the day, including late night bites Thursday through Saturday.
Many of the sandwiches can be modified to be gluten free and most of the sides are naturally vegan and gluten free.
Continue reading to learn about my experience and tips at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers.
Entrance to Sookie’s Veggie Burgers in Madison, WI [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Details
Designation: Dedicated Vegan, Gluten Free Options
Price Range: $ - $$
Style: American, Burgers
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Late Night
Location:
Located on State Street near several restaurants and shops
Multiple bike racks right outside and across the street
Multiple bus stops within walking distance
Street parking nearby on W Gilman and other neighboring streets. Parking garages in walking distance
Close to the capitol building and UW Madison
Not wheelchair accessible
Atmosphere
Counter and dining room at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
The dining room at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers is casual and trendy. They have a nice sized dining room with plenty of tables.
I went for a late lunch at 1:30 pm on a Tuesday and they were not very busy.
Table at Sookie’s Veggie Burger [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
There is a fun mural on the main wall. They have live plants on every table and around the restaurant.
Entrance and dining room at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
They were playing pop music softly in the dining room.
They also have outlets and USB chargers at each booth, which is perfect for UW Madison students.
Menu
Counter and menu at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Sookie’s has multiple burgers and sandwiches on their menu. Sandwiches are made gluten free by swapping the buns for lettuce wraps.
The only one that can’t be made gluten free is the Vegan Chicken Sandwich.
Entrance and breakfast sign at Sookies Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
They also have a breakfast menu where the sandwiches are made with gluten free hash browns instead of buns. Breakfast is available from 9am - noon.
They have multiple gluten free sides that are made in a dedicated gluten free air fryer and dessert options as well.
Sookie’s has kombucha and beer on tap. They also have pour over coffee.
If you would like, you can take a look at their full menu here.
Food
My order
Impossible burger lettuce wrap and tater tots at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Impossible Burger ($13)
Seasoned impossible burger patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, vegan mayo, and ketchup.
Modified to be gluten free by swapping bun for lettuce wrap.
Side of tater tots (included with meal)
Seasoned, air-fried tater tots.
Taste: ★★★★☆
My burger was good. The impossible burger patty was well seasoned and had a nice flavor. It had a perfect amount of ketchup and mayo.
They used multiple, large lettuce leaves for the wrap and it was easy to hold and eat.
The tater tots were also well seasoned and crispy.
Quality: ★★★★★
All of the ingredients were fresh and high quality. The onion, tomatoes, and lettuce on my burger were crisp.
You can tell the burger and tater tots were prepared fresh after I ordered.
Variety: ★★★★★
There are several things on the menu I could have ordered. Everything on the menu is vegan and almost all of them can be made gluten free.
They have options for every meal of the day.
Quantity: ★★★★★
I thought my burger and side of tater tots was a perfect portion size for lunch. Even with the lettuce wrap, it was still filling.
You get a good amount of tater tots with your order.
Value: ★★★★☆
Although it’s on the higher side for fast food, I think the quality and amount make Sookie’s Veggie Burgers worth the price.
Service
Hospitality: ★★★★★
Everyone I spoke to was very nice and helpful.
They were able to quickly answer all of my questions and were happy to share information on their ingredients and food preparation.
Efficiency: ★★★★★
They started preparing my food immediately after I ordered. It took less than 10 minutes to get my food.
Accuracy: ★★★★★
Everything came out as ordered, with modifications.
Safety
Staff knowledge: ★★★★★
Staff is knowledgeable about gluten and celiac disease.
When I called ahead, they were able to tell me the ins and outs of all their gluten free options and preparation.
Preparation: ★★★★☆
Staff is trained on cross contamination
Dedicated gluten free air fryer
Use clean utensils and pans to prepare food
You can get mayo if you ask them to get it from a new container, otherwise leave off the mayo
Sookie’s Veggie Burgers has several gluten free options and takes multiple precautions when preparing gluten free food.
They do have a dedicated gluten free air fryer which means you can order any of the fried sides.
They are not a dedicated gluten free kitchen, so there is always a risk of cross contamination.
Always tell staff you are vegan and have celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance, to make sure they take extra precautions and prepare your food with clean surfaces.
Did I get *glutened? No
*Glutened (verb, past tense)
When a person who has celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance, consumes gluten accidentally and experiences gluten induced symptoms.
Juice bar at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Overall
★★★★★
Would I go back? Yes
Based on my research and experience, I think Sookie’s is a perfect fast food option for gluten free vegans.
They have some great options and their staff is trained on cross contamination and celiac disease.
It’s exciting that they have vegan and gluten free options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, and dessert.
Lighting and plants in the dining room at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Tips
Late Night Snacks
They are the only restaurant in Madison I know of that offers vegan and gluten free food after midnight a few days a week. They are open until 2:10 AM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Being close to UW Madison, this is perfect for students who may be looking for a late night study break.
Regular Customer Discount
You can get a dollar off any menu item if you’ve eaten at Sookie’s Veggie Burgers in the past two weeks.
Want to learn more about eating vegan and gluten free in Madison, WI? Check out my article listed below.
Have you been to Sookie’s Veggie Burgers? What was your experience and what did you order? Add your thoughts below!
Madison, WI has many options for gluten free vegans. Learn all of my tips, tricks, and favorite restaurants for vegan and gluten free food in Madison, WI, USA. Use the map to find vegan and gluten free restaurants near your hotel and popular tourist destinations.