A butcher shop sells porterhouse steaks, Korean ribs, and smoked gouda, yet no animal went into any of it. Every single item is made from plants, by hand, right in the shop.
The story gets better. A sister and brother started with just five products at a farmers market. More than 5,000 people showed up when their first store opened its doors.
I love that this happened in Minnesota, a state that takes its brats and deli counters seriously. The cooler cases look exactly like the ones at an old-school meat market. Only the ingredients are different.
So what keeps meat lovers coming back to a counter with zero meat on it? The answer starts with a family recipe and a whole lot of wheat.
America Got Its First Vegan Butcher Shop Right Here
History was made in Northeast Minneapolis on January 23, 2016. That was the day The Herbivorous Butcher opened its doors as a brick-and-mortar shop.
It is widely recognized as the first vegan butcher shop in the United States. Think about that for a second, because butcher shops have been around for centuries.
The opening weekend was no quiet affair. More than 5,000 people came through to see what a meat-free butcher looked like. That is a huge crowd for a shop with a compact retail counter.
The buzz did not fade after that first rush. The shop has been featured by The New York Times, BBC, TIME, and Entrepreneur. It has also appeared on The Today Show.
Being first comes with a certain responsibility. In 2021, the shop won a trademark dispute against Sweet Earth, a company owned by Nestle. The fight was over the phrase The Vegan Butcher.
A small family shop standing up to a giant food company is a pretty great plot twist. It shows how much the owners care about the name they built.
So when you stop by, you are visiting more than a store. You are visiting a genuine first in American food.
A Sister And Brother Turned Childhood Dishes Into A Business
Family food memories sparked this whole adventure. Aubry Walch went vegan at 18, but she still missed the Guamanian dishes she grew up eating.
Her solution was simple and bold. She started making meat-free versions of those childhood favorites in her own kitchen.
Her brother Kale was paying attention. Her plant-based creations inspired him to go vegan too, and soon the two were working side by side. Sibling teamwork can be messy, but these two clearly figured it out.
In 2014, they took five products to the Minneapolis Farmers Market. Just five items on a table, and a big idea behind them. That humble start grew into a full shop two years later.
The family story did not stop at one store either. In 2017, they founded Herbivorous Acres, a nonprofit farm sanctuary for animals. Their values clearly reach past the deli case.
The shop is still family-owned today. I like knowing that the people behind the counter grew this from a farmers market table.
It makes every sandwich feel a little more personal. Somebody’s grandma’s cooking basically started it all, and that is hard not to love.
Steaks, Ribs, And Brats Built From Scratch
Korean Ribs are the best-seller, and the name alone sounds like a backyard party. They lead a lineup that reads like a classic steakhouse menu.
You will find Porterhouse Steak, Ribeye Steak, Pastrami, and Huli Huli Hawaiian Ribs. Sriracha Brats, Mexican Chorizo, Summer Sausage, and meatballs round things out.
Deli fans get plenty to explore too. There are turkey, ham, and capicola slices, plus bacon and chicken-style cutlets. Planning a charcuterie board just got way more interesting.
Here is what sets the shop apart. Everything is handcrafted in-house in small batches, with no help from big brands like Beyond Meat or Impossible.
Most of the meats start with seitan, which is made from vital wheat gluten. The owners have compared their kitchen to a savory bakery, and even called the process molecular gastronomy.
The Ribeye Steak recently earned real bragging rights. In June 2026, PETA gave it a top honor in its first A Cut Above vegan steak awards.
Each product is crafted for specific textures, smokiness, and seasoning. The goal is food that tastes great on its own, not just a stand-in.
Cheese Lovers Get Their Own Plant-Based Playground
Garlic Pepper Havarti might be the most fun name in the whole case. It sits alongside a cheese lineup that would impress any Wisconsin neighbor.
The options include Camembert, Brie, Bleu Cheese, Smoked Gouda, Cheddar, and Mozzarella. Pepperjack, Dill Havarti, and Pesto Havarti add even more variety.
Craving something warm and melty? Spicy Queso Blanco is on the list too. There’s also Cashew Parmesan for sprinkling over pasta night.
Like the meats, these are all made from scratch in the shop. Many of the cheeses use a base of soy milk and coconut oil.
That homemade approach is what makes this place feel different from a grocery aisle. Small batches mean the team can focus on flavor and freshness.
Pairing ideas come easy here. Dill Havarti next to deli turkey sounds like a winning lunch. Smoked Gouda with summer sausage feels made for game day snacking.
If you are building a party platter, this case is your best friend. Grab a few blocks and slices and let your guests guess what is in them. Half the fun is watching their faces when you tell them.
Guy Fieri Gave This Sandwich His Seal Of Approval
Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stopped by in Season 25, Episode 3. The star of that visit was the Italian Cold Cut Sandwich.
Guy Fieri gave it his approval, which is no small thing. The man has tasted a mountain of deli meat over the years.
That sandwich is still on the menu today. The shop even recommends it for first-timers trying vegan deli meats. Consider it the friendly handshake of the whole place.
Other sandwiches tempt too. The Turkey and Dill Havarti Sandwich is a fan favorite with a classic deli feel.
Prepared foods go beyond bread. You can also take home lasagna and macaroni and cheese for an easy dinner. That is a solid move after a long day.
Sweet treats sometimes join the counter as well. The shop carries hand pies from local baker Front Porch Pies.
Sandwiches make the easiest first step if you are curious but unsure. You get several products in one bite, all stacked together. If you like what you taste, the cooler is right there waiting. Funny how one lunch can turn into a shopping trip.
The Cooler Cases Will Make You Do A Double Take
Glass cooler cases line the shop, packed with steaks, sausages, and sliced deli meats. Everything is laid out just like a classic butcher counter.
That look is completely on purpose. The large coolers were designed to mimic a traditional butcher shop, so the experience feels familiar.
The space itself is bright, clean, and airy. It is a small shop, which gives it a friendly neighborhood vibe. You won’t get lost in endless aisles here.
Small also means focused. Your eyes go straight to the cases, which is exactly where they should go.
Merch is part of the fun too. The shop sells items like hats, shirts, and stickers if you want to show off your visit. A meat-free snapback is a strong conversation starter at any cookout.
You can even pick up The Herbivorous Butcher Cookbook, released in Fall 2022. It lets you take some of the shop’s know-how home with you.
Some seating is available if you want to eat on the spot. Still, this works best as a shop first, so think deli stop rather than sit-down dinner. Grab your goodies and enjoy the show behind the glass.
Meat Eaters Are Actually The Biggest Fans
Roughly 70 percent of the customers are omnivores. Yes, most people shopping at this vegan butcher still eat meat.
That number tells you a lot about the mission. The founders want to bridge the gap with familiar tastes and textures.
The idea is pretty clever. Instead of asking people to give up their favorites, the shop offers ribs, brats, and cold cuts they already know. It feels less like a lecture and more like an invitation.
The business is rooted in compassion and care for the planet. The owners want to lower the impact of animal agriculture on the environment.
They also care about human health and animal welfare. Their products aim to be delicious, nutritious, and full of protein.
I believe this is why the shop works so well. Nobody has to choose a team before walking up to the counter.
Bring a friend who swears they could never go meatless. Hand them a Korean Rib and let the food do the talking. The worst case is a good lunch. The best case is a new favorite that happens to be made from plants.
The Neighborhood Makes The Trip Even Better
Northeast Minneapolis has a creative streak, and the shop fits right in. It sits in the lively St. Anthony neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis, just south of the city’s officially designated Arts District.
You will find it at 507 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. It is an easy stop if you are exploring this side of the river.
Parking is not much of a headache. Street parking on 1st Ave NE is generally available. There are also two 15-minute customer spots in the adjacent alley.
Those quick spots are perfect for a fast pickup. Run in, grab your sandwich, and get back on the road.
Timing matters, so plan ahead. Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Mondays are closed, so don’t show up hungry that day. Also leave the cash at home, because the shop takes only cards and tap-to-pay.
Bring a cooler if you plan to stock up for the drive home. Minnesota summers can get warm, and those Smoked Gouda blocks deserve better than a hot back seat. A little planning keeps your haul in perfect shape.
Can’t Make It To Minneapolis? The Meats Can Come To You
Distance doesn’t have to stop you from tasting these products. The Herbivorous Butcher ships nationwide, so your doorstep can become a mini deli counter.
That is great news for anyone living far from Minnesota. You can order meats and cheeses and plan a whole meal around them at home.
Around the Twin Cities, you might spot the products without even visiting the shop. Other restaurants in the region use them on their menus. Keep an eye out next time you order a vegan dish nearby.
The family has another stop worth knowing too. Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken opened in May 2021 as Minnesota’s first vegan fried chicken shop.
Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken closed its South Minneapolis restaurant on March 30, 2025, but some of its popular plant-based chicken products remain available through The Herbivorous Butcher.
Want to try your hand at home? The cookbook offers a way to learn some of their methods yourself.
Still, nothing beats seeing those cooler cases in person. A shipping box is handy, but the real thrill is standing at the counter of America’s first vegan butcher. That moment alone makes the trip worth planning.
