National Sports Center – Vegetarian Guide
The National Sports Center, located in the small town of Blaine, Minnesota, is the largest amateur sports facility in the world. This 600-acre complex is sure to amaze all who visit. Included in the National Sports Center is a soccer stadium, more than 50 soccer fields, a golf course, an arena-style cycling track, a convention facility, and the largest ice arena in the world.
You can easily work up an appetite just walking around the National Sports Center. There are plenty of places to eat at surrounding this world-class facility, many of which have options for those with nutritional restrictions. Below we’ve outlined some of the best restaurants and casual eateries near the National Sports Center where vegetarians can find something to satisfy their hunger.
Kintaro Sushi & Hibachi
Kintaro Sushi & Hibachi is a sushi and hibachi restaurant where diners of all kinds can find something to enjoy. One of the customer favorites is Kintaro’s hibachi. Guests can sit down at a hibachi table and watch their food being freshly prepared by an upbeat chef. Vegetarians can order the vegetable hibachi, which comes with plenty of rice and noodles as well.
Instead of hibachi, guests can choose to enjoy some of Kintaro’s fresh sushi. Meat-free favorites include avocado rolls, cucumber rolls, asparagus rolls, sweet potato tempura, and vegetable rolls. Kintaro also has an AAC roll, which combines avocado, asparagus, and cucumber. With a side of soy sauce and wasabi, what’s not to love?
Lastly, guests can opt for some Thai dishes instead of hibachi or sushi. Enjoy pad Thai with vegetables or tofu, meat-free lo mein, or vegetable fried rice. This restaurant covers almost all its bases when it comes to Asian cuisine, so there’s plenty to choose from.
Those pressed for time can still satisfy their craving for Japanese food by placing an order online. Simple, satisfying, and vegetarian friendly; Kintaro is a great choice only three minutes from the National Sports Center!
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant is a family-owned business founded by Maria and Jesus Leon in 1996. Their authentic Mexican cuisine is so beloved by locals that they were able to open multiple locations throughout the area. Acapulco has a lively and inviting environment where the Leon family strives to make every guest feel welcome.
Thir menu includes options for everyone, as it was created to cater to all tastes. Start off with the guacamole, five layer dip, or a vegetarian quesadilla. For a main course, you can’t go wrong with the chiles poblanos. This dish consists of two poblano peppers lightly battered, stuffed with queso fresco, and pan-fried until golden brown and crispy. The chiles poblanos come with rice, beans, sour cream, and tortillas, so this meal is sure to fill you up. Their generous portions ensure no one will leave hungry. One of the best parts about visiting Acapulco is their happy hour, which takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. every day.
Broadway Bar & Pizza
Pizza is always a group favorite, and at Broadway Bar & Pizza, there are options for all kinds of eaters. Start off with one of their appetizers, like the chipotle nachos smothered in cheese and topped with jalapeños, black olives, tomatoes, and onions. Guests can also opt for the Broadway Poutine, made of tater tots and Cheddar curds, or the more healthy protein power bowl. This healthy alternative is a blend of red and brown rice, quinoa, peppers, onions, kale, and arugula.
Now on to the main course! In addition to a standard array of pizzas, Broadway also offers a vegan pizza and one loaded with vegetable toppings. Their pizza is all homemade, with an exclusive, secret sauce and dough rolled freshly each day. Broadway also serves various flatbreads, such as Caprese, Meditterranean, and bruschetta. Those not in the mood for pizza or a flatbread can instead opt for The Promise Burger, which features a plant-based bun, an Impossible Burger patty, vegan mozzarella, and plenty of other delicious toppings.
Broadway’s full bar is the perfect place to grab a drink, chow down on a flatbread, and watch the game on one of their many televisions. The dining room also includes cozy booths, high top tables, and regular tables where families can share a pizza. Broadway Bar & Pizza is the kind of place you’re going to love to hang out at after a long day at the National Sports Center.
Maharaja Indian Cuisine
Indian cuisine is especially vegetarian-friendly, so it’s good news for those visiting the National Sports Center that there’s an Indian restaurant just eight minutes away. Maharaja Indian Cuisine is a celebrated restaurant, known in the community for delicious food and exceptional service.
When tasting the food at Maharaja, you can tell they make everything with fresh ingredients. Dishes include traditional Indian fare, as well as their own, modern interpretations. There’s something for everyone, and vegetarians will be especially happy when they come across the dedicated meat-free menu.
Vegetarians may have a hard time choosing what to order, as Maharaja has no shortage of meat-free options. Start with the vegetable samosas, freshly fried and deliciously crispy. The paneer pakora consists of deep-fried cubes of homemade cheese served with chutney, while aloo tikki is filled with seasoned potatoes fried in chickpea batter. Lastly, you’re sure to enjoy the vegetable biryani, consisting of vegetables on a bed of basmati rice, nuts, and raisins. Get your fill of vegetarian food by visiting Maharaja.
Cuisines from all over the world are available within a 10-minute drive of the National Sports Center. This is convenient for vegetarians, as there are options for them as well. Whether you’re in the mood to split a pizza, indulge in some sushi, or dive into a hearty plate of Mexican food, you’ll find something you’ll enjoy. There are many more options around, so take this list as a starting point and chow down on all the food you can!