Even Meat Eaters Can’t Help But Fall in Love With the Menu at This Plant-Based Restaurant in Wisconsin

When you think of Wisconsin’s food scene, you probably imagine bratwurst sizzling at a tailgate, beer flowing like a golden river, and cheese curds so perfectly fried they could bring a tear to your eye. This is a state where the mere suggestion of dairy-free anything might earn you a raised eyebrow. And yet, tucked away in Cudahy—just outside Milwaukee—is a plant-based restaurant so wildly good that even the most devoted meat lovers find themselves coming back for more.

Yes, in the land of deep-fried everything and supper clubs that serve steak the size of a steering wheel, Twisted Plants is proving that vegan food isn’t just an alternative—it’s a revelation.

This isn’t some minimalist, kale-worshipping café with questionable portions and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you have to whisper. Twisted Plants is bold, flavorful, and just the right amount of irreverent. It’s the kind of place where the walls are as lively as the food, the staff makes you feel like a regular even if it’s your first time, and the menu reads like a love letter to comfort food... because it is!

Owners Brandon and Arielle Hawthorne are the masterminds behind this meatless magic, bringing plant-based indulgence to Wisconsin with a passion rooted in something far more personal than food trends. After Arielle’s lymphoma diagnosis in 2016, she dove into researching the effects of diet on health. What started as a personal journey turned into a mission, first with a food truck in 2019, and then with Twisted Plants’ permanent brick-and-mortar home in 2020.

Now, they’re serving up the kind of vegan food that doesn’t need to justify itself—it just needs to be eaten.

And eaten it is. The menu is stacked with towering burgers that would make any diner jealous, all named after cult-favorite movies because, let’s be honest, the only thing better than a great burger is a great burger with a great pun. The Up in Smoke is a true behemoth—grilled onions, smoky plant-based bacon, Twisted Smokehouse sauce, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles, an onion ring for good measure, and a perfectly crafted plant-based patty that’ll have you double-checking to make sure it's not actually meat.

The Chopped & Screwed takes a more straightforward approach with a karate-chopped patty, grilled onions, mayo, and cheese but still delivers that indulgent, diner-style satisfaction. For those who appreciate a little Southern twang on their sandwich, the How High swaps out the patty for shredded BBQ jackfruit, pickles, crispy onions, slaw, and chipotle ranch, proving that jackfruit—when handled by the right hands—can do things no mere fruit should be capable of. If you like your burgers just the way you want them, the Build Your Own option lets you get as creative (or indecisive) as you want.

Twisted Plants doesn’t just do burgers, though. The Crispy Chick’n Salad is there for anyone wanting something fresh but still packed with flavor, proving that eating your greens doesn’t mean suffering through a sad bowl of lettuce. The appetizers, however, are where things get dangerously addictive. The This Is the End loaded fries are a chaotic masterpiece of BBQ jackfruit, jalapeños, chipotle ranch, BBQ sauce, cheese, and guacamole sauce. If you’ve never had jackfruit before, this is the way to try it -- slow-cooked, smoky, and so satisfyingly tender it’s hard to believe it ever grew on a tree.

The Munchie Platter is a feast built for sharing (or not), featuring a little bit of everything: sliders, nuggets, drummies, mozzarella sticks, fries, tots, and cauliflower bites that deliver the crunch you crave without the regret of deep-fried everything.

Desserts and drinks at Twisted Plants keep the comfort food train rolling, with thick, creamy shakes in flavors like salted caramel cheesecake and banana fudge. There’s chocolate cake, carrot cake, cookies, and even dirt cake—because some things should never be left behind in childhood. The fresh-squeezed strawberry lemonade is a bright, tart contrast to all the indulgence, but let’s be honest: you came here for the kind of meal that requires a nap afterward, and Twisted Plants delivers exactly that.

It’s the kind of place that makes you reconsider everything you thought about plant-based eating. Not because it’s trying to trick you, but because it doesn’t have to. This isn’t about finding the next health craze or convincing die-hard carnivores to swap their steak for seitan—it’s just about good food. Whether you’re vegan, veg-curious, or just someone who loves an excellent meal, Twisted Plants is worth the trip to Cudahy. You might walk in skeptical, but you’ll walk out full, happy, and possibly rethinking your entire relationship with plant-based food.

And while you’re in the mood to rep something unexpected, why not wear your Wisconsin pride on your sleeve—literally? Wear Your Roots Clothing is the perfect way to show off where you’re from (or, in my case, where you wish you were from). Because if places like Twisted Plants prove anything, it’s that Wisconsin isn’t just about brats and beer—it’s about passion, flavor, and a food scene that’s got more surprises than you’d expect.