Our Story

From facing multiple felony charges to warming a community with plant-based soul food.

2016

Falsely accused

Louis Hunter attended the protest after the killing of Philando Castile. He was wrongfully accused and arrested — facing up to 20 years in prison for something he didn't do.

2017

The community fought back

It took over a year to fight the charges. With Dan & Sarah Woodcock — a couple he met while protesting — organizing petitions and support, the charges were finally dropped in August 2017.

2018

Trio is born

They started serving the community with pop-ups — and sold out every time. The community rallied and raised over $50,000 to turn the pop-ups into a restaurant. Trio opened its doors.

2019

First of its kind

Louis became sole owner of Trio — making it the 1st Black-owned plant-based restaurant in Minnesota. Today it's still serving every dish with soul and love.

"Trio is all about love. We serve every dish with our soul and love."

Louis Hunter · Owner & Chef

Recognition

Top five in the country.
Five years on the podium at home.

Trio has been named one of the five best vegan soul food restaurants in America, and has taken eight Minnesota’s Best medals — including back-to-back golds and a double gold in 2023 — in the Star Tribune’s statewide readers’ choice awards. The story has been told everywhere from the BBC to the Twin Cities morning shows.

★

Top 5 vegan soul food restaurants in the U.S.

PETA named Trio one of just five in the nation — alongside kitchens in Oakland, Charlotte, Wilmington and Boise. The For Your Soul Bowl got the callout.

Read PETA’s list

2025

BRONZE

Vegan Food

The most recent — won in the Uptown kitchen’s final year, before the move to Midtown.

Minnesota’s Best

2023

GOLD ×2

Vegan & Vegetarian

Double gold — first place statewide in both categories off a single ballot. Trio’s best year.

Minnesota’s Best

2022

GOLD

Vegan Food

Gold for vegan, plus silver for vegetarian and silver for soul food — three medals in one year.

Minnesota’s Best

2021

SILVER ×2

Vegan & Vegetarian

Two silvers in the first year on the board — the start of the run.

Minnesota’s Best

As seen in

National food press, network news, and the local shows — Louis has told this story on a lot of couches.

TV · KSTP Twin Cities Live Louis cooks the For The Soul Bowl on air Watch → TV · KARE 11 KARE 11 Sunrise “Food that’s good for the soul” Watch →

TV · FOX 9 The Jason Show Featured segment

Network news BBC News Why Black Americans are more likely to be vegan

Business Forbes Minneapolis’ Black-owned business community

Food & culture Bon Appétit Profile of owner Louis Hunter

Food TODAY Fighting for Black lives with plant-based food Read →

Food news Delish Donated hundreds of meals across Minneapolis

Strategy Business Insider The man behind Minneapolis’ 1st Black-owned plant-based restaurant

Vegan press VegNews Feeding a community through the protests

Vegan press One Green Planet Brave Louis Hunter fights for Black lives Read → Local Sahan Journal Combining vegan food and community Read → Local MN Spokesman-Recorder Plant-based soul food puts down roots Read → Award PETA Top 5 vegan soul food restaurants in the U.S. Read →

Crowd Favorites

The plates people
drive across town for.

Real comfort food — just made from plants. There's something for everyone, whether you're vegan or just curious.

Soul Food

A platter of yams, mac and cheeze and collard greens in glass bowls, with cornbread, maple butter and BBQ ribs

Build Your Own Platter

Pick three soul food items for $17 — mac & cheeze, collard greens, yams, cornbread, ribs, catfish or slaw. Goes up to six for $30.

Burgers

BBQ burger with fried onion rings, gouda and seasoned fries

BBQ Pit

Plant-based patty with our house-made BBQ sauce, gouda cheeze and mayo, topped with two onion rings on a pretzel bun.

Catfish

Catfish Sandwich

Hearts of palm, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo on a pretzel bun. Catfish is $8 on its own, or as a platter pick.

Chk’n

Keiko Oyster Chk’n

Fried oyster mushroom chk’n tossed in your choice of sauce, with grilled shallots and house-made ranch. A +$5 upcharge as a platter pick.

Drinks

A row of house-made lemonades in five flavors, lined up on a sunlit wooden windowsill

House Lemonade

Regular $4 — or flavored: peach, peach strawberry, mango or mango strawberry.

Dessert

Vanilla cake with strawberries and strawberry sauce

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Sauce

House-made vanilla cake with fresh strawberry sauce. Save room.

tap the items
to build your platter

Build Your Own Platter

Load it up
your way.

Build your own platter — pick any three items and it's $17, on up to six. Add Chk’n as a seventh for $5. Tap the items to build yours.

House BBQ Jackfruit Ribs$8+

Catfish$8+

Mac N Cheeze$7+

Collard Greens$6+

Yams$6+

Southern Slaw$5+

Cornbread with Maple Butter$6+

Keiko Oyster Chk’n+$5+

One protein per platter — house BBQ jackfruit ribs or catfish, no doubling up. Keiko oyster chk’n is a +$5 add-on and counts as your seventh item; on its own it’s a $10 side.

0 items on your plate

Your plate$0

Pick 3 items for the $17 platter.

Order this plate

The Full Menu

Everything's plant-based.
Everything's made with soul.

Build Your Own Platter Pick 3–7$17–35Choose 3 for $17, 4 for $20, 5 for $25 or 6 for $30 — one protein (house BBQ jackfruit ribs or catfish) plus mac n cheeze, collard greens, cornbread with maple butter, yams and southern slaw. No doubling up on protein. Add Keiko oyster chk’n as a seventh item for +$5.

For Your Soul Bowl Favorite ^$16Mac & cheeze and collard greens with a splash of buffalo sauce, topped with cornbread crumbles and maple butter. Add BBQ jackfruit riblets +$3 or extra maple butter +$2.

Sweet Bowl ^$16Mac and cheeze, yams and cornbread crumbles topped with maple butter. Add BBQ jackfruit riblets +$3 or extra maple butter +$2.

Soul Food Sidesalso the platter picks

House BBQ Jackfruit Ribs$8Our house-made ribs.

Catfish$8Made with hearts of palm.

Keiko Oyster Chk’n Back soon$10Oyster mushroom chk’n. A +$5 add-on as a platter pick. Off the menu at the moment — it rotates back in, so ask when you order.

Mac N Cheeze ^$7Our house-made mac n cheeze.

Collard Greens GF$6Slow-cooked, deep and savory.

Cornbread with Maple Butter$6Warm, with whipped maple butter.

Yams GF$6Glazed and Sunday-dinner sweet.

Southern Slaw GF$5Crunchy, creamy, bright.

Also on the Sidenot a platter pick

Fries$5Regular. Cajun or sweet potato $7.

Burgerswith fries or side salad

Classic Burger$15Plant-based patty (soy-free) topped with lettuce, shallots and tomato. Your choice of plant-based cheeze on a pretzel bun.

BBQ Pit$17Plant-based patty (soy-free) with our house-made BBQ sauce, gouda cheeze and mayo, topped with two onion rings on a pretzel bun.

Mac Attack ^$17Plant-based patty with American cheeze topped with buffalo mac & cheeze and our house-made ranch on a pretzel bun.

Fiesta Burger$17Plant-based patty (soy-free) with pepper jack cheeze, guacamole, shallots, lettuce and tomato on a pretzel bun with sour cream.

Falafel$17House-made falafel, fried, topped with lettuce, shallots, tomatoes and our cilantro lemon aioli, on a pretzel bun.

Sloppy Joe$17Plant-based patty (soy-free) chopped and mixed with diced onion and BBQ sauce, topped with southern slaw on a pretzel bun.

Nipsey Burger$17Plant-based patty (soy-free) with American cheeze, topped with lettuce, tomatoes and grilled onions, with Hussle sauce.

Catfish Sandwich$20Hearts of palm, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo on a pretzel bun.

Go Crazy$20Double plant-based patty (soy-free) on a pretzel bun, with the chef’s choice of toppings.

Chk’n Sandwich$18Fried oyster chk’n tossed in your choice of sauce, topped with lettuce, tomatoes and grilled shallots, drizzled with our house-made ranch.

Macs

Buffalo Cauliflower Mac ^$15Mac & cheeze with buffalo sauce, diced tomatoes and crispy cauliflower bites. Drizzled with our house-made ranch.

Burger Mac ^$15Mac & cheeze with Trio BBQ, pickles, diced tomatoes and ground plant-based burger.

Chili Mac ^ Back soon$15Chili folded into our mac & cheeze with a sour cream drizzle. Off the menu at the moment — it rotates back in, so ask when you order.

Wraps

Boolin Buffalo Wrap$15Cauliflower wings tossed in buffalo sauce and wrapped in a whole-grain tortilla with our house-made ranch, diced tomatoes and lettuce.

The Lou$15Cauliflower wings tossed in BBQ sauce and wrapped in a whole-grain tortilla with our house-made ranch, diced tomatoes and lettuce.

Southwest Roll$17Wheat tortilla with oyster chk’n tossed in buffalo, with lettuce, diced onions, roasted corn, black beans and diced tomatoes. Served with a side of southwest sauce.

BBQ Jackfruit Roll$17BBQ jackfruit and coleslaw wrapped in a wheat tortilla with pepper jack cheeze, then fried. Served with a side of cilantro aioli.

Cauliflower Wings$15Battered, tossed in your choice of sauce. Served with a side of ranch.

Nachos ^ ~$15Corn tortilla chips layered with cheeze sauce, black beans, walnut taco “meat”, lettuce and tomatoes, drizzled with sour cream.

Taco Trio GF ^$14Build your tacos — choose jackfruit or walnut taco “meat” on three corn tortillas topped with salsa, lettuce, diced tomatoes, shallots and sour cream. (No mixing of protein choice.)

Na-Cho Fries GF ^ ~$17Fries layered with cheeze sauce, black beans, walnut taco “meat”, lettuce and tomatoes, drizzled with sour cream.

Sloppy Joe Fries$17Fries topped with sloppy joe mix and southern slaw.

Mac Fries ^$17Crispy seasoned fries smothered in buffalo mac & cheeze, drizzled with our house-made ranch.

Fried Onion Rings$8Served with a side of BBQ sauce and ranch.

Chili Cheeze Fries ^ ~ Back soon$17Fries topped with chili and cheeze sauce, drizzled with sour cream. Off the menu at the moment — it rotates back in, so ask when you order.

BBQ Jackfruit Fries GF$17Fries topped with southern slaw, BBQ jackfruit and pepper jack cheeze, served with a side of cilantro lemon aioli.

Salads

Walnut Taco Salad GF ^$13Shredded leaf lettuce tossed in cilantro aioli with walnut taco “meat”, black beans, fresh onions and diced tomatoes.

Chk’n Southwest Salad GF$15Shredded leaf lettuce tossed in our house-made ranch with walnut taco “meat”, roasted corn, black beans, fresh onions and diced tomatoes, topped with fried buffalo chk’n (oyster mushrooms).

Desserts

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Sauce$8House-made, sweet and fresh.

Onitha’s Peach Cobbler$8House peach cobbler, made with love from Louis’s mom.

Trio BIG Cookie$6Choose chocolate chip or sugar.

Lillian’s Sweet Potato Pie Back soon$7A family recipe. Off the menu at the moment — it rotates back in, so ask when you order.

Panda Squad Cookies Back soon$6Vegan cookies, dairy and egg free — apple apricot fritter or panda strawberry shortbread. Off the menu at the moment — it rotates back in, so ask when you order.

Kids Menu

Kids Cheezeburger 12 and under$10Single patty with American cheeze, pickles and lettuce on a pretzel bun.

Kid’s Mac and Cheeze ^$8Mac and cheeze with french fries.

Drinks

Lemonade New flavors$4House-made, one size. Regular, or add a flavor — peach or mango +$1; peach strawberry or mango strawberry +$2.

Bottled Water$2Cold and simple.

The black Trio Plant-Based food truck parked on the grass at an outdoor festival, with the St. Paul skyline behind it — Photo: Jackson Tyler Eddy

Catering & Food Truck

Bring Trio
to your event.

The rich flavors of soul food, made 100% plant-based — warm, comforting, and a crowd-pleaser whether your guests are vegan or not. From office lunches to weddings, our kitchen and food truck roll out for you.

Collard GreensYamsHouse BBQ RibsMac & Cheeze Southern SlawCornbread & Maple ButterCauliflower WingsSweet Potato Pie

100%Plant-based, always

2018Feeding the Twin Cities since

CallFor a custom quote

Book the truck or catering

The truck

Where’s Trio
parked today?

The truck moves. This page follows it — updated straight from the kitchen, so what you see here is where we actually are.

Book the truck for your event

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Follow @trioplantbasedmn →

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More Than a Meal

Rooted in the
community that raised it.

Trio wouldn't exist without the neighbors who stood up for Louis. Feeding people forward is just how the restaurant runs.

🤝

Feeding neighbors

Pop-ups at shelters and community donations — Trio has served hundreds of free hot vegan meals in a single day.

🎨

A home for artists

Wall space for local artists to show and sell their work, and a room that always feels like everyone's welcome.

🌱

Healthier by default

Southern comfort food you love, made entirely from plants — so a soul food classic can be an everyday meal.

$0Community-raised to open

0% plant-based, always

0First of its kind in MN

Come Hungry

Find us inside
Midtown Global Market
on E Lake Street.

We’re inside Midtown Global Market on E Lake Street — come through the main doors and follow your nose. Plenty of parking in the ramp.

Address

Midtown Global Market920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Parking

Free for the first hourIn the Midtown Global Market ramp — ask us about it when you order

Hours

Sunday · 11am – 5pmMonday – Saturday · 11:30am – 7:30pm

Order & catering

(612) 446-3832info@trioplant-based.com

Follow along

@trioplantbasedmn

Falsely accused

The community fought back

Trio is born

First of its kind

Top five in the country.Five years on the podium at home.

Top 5 vegan soul food restaurants in the U.S.

Vegan Food

Vegan & Vegetarian

Vegan Food

Vegan & Vegetarian

The plates peopledrive across town for.

Build Your Own Platter

BBQ Pit

Catfish Sandwich

Keiko Oyster Chk’n

House Lemonade

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Sauce

Load it upyour way.

Everything's plant-based.Everything's made with soul.

Bring Trioto your event.

Where’s Trioparked today?

Rooted in thecommunity that raised it.

Feeding neighbors

A home for artists

Healthier by default

Find us insideMidtown Global Marketon E Lake Street.

Top five in the country.
Five years on the podium at home.

The plates people
drive across town for.

Load it up
your way.

Everything's plant-based.
Everything's made with soul.

Bring Trio
to your event.

Where’s Trio
parked today?

Rooted in the
community that raised it.

Find us inside
Midtown Global Market
on E Lake Street.