Now, great things about living in Chicago are seriously endless, but one of my personal favorites would have to be how many top vegan restaurants there are, let alone top vegan restaurants. Here’s a couple to add to that list:
1. The Chicago Diner
This is my own personal favorite and is often where I take my out-of-town friends. It’s rumored to have the best vegan milkshakes in the entire country, a fact to which I can highly attest. It’s comfort foods and American classics galore at The Chicago Diner, with most options offering to add normal cheese or eggs for your non-vegan friends. There’s even two locations, one in Boystown and one in Logan Square.
2. Pick Me Up Cafe
PMU is a close second and located not far from the Chicago Diner. The best part about this place is it’s open and serving breakfast until 2am- perfect for your late night cravings. PMU also has plenty of non-vegan and gluten-free dishes, suitable for a wide variety of people. For my fellow vegans I’d suggest either the dark chocolate chip pancakes, macaroni and cheese, or the Santa Fe scram
3. Earth’s Kitchen
Not listed as a vegan restaurant, but for sure Earth’s Kitchen can offer something. There’s vegetable sushi, vegetable gyoza, and then a number of different noodle and rice dishes which are all vegan. I usually split the vegetable gyoza appetizer with a friend and get the yakisoba noodles with a side of miso soup because it really hits the spot on those chilly winter nights. One of my favorite things about Earth’s Kitchen is that it’s BYOB, so usually we end up grabbing a cheap bottle of wine from the 7/11 on the corner to enjoy with our dinner.
4. Kitchen 17
My go-to for vegan deep dish pizza. Coming into Chicago, I had written off deep dish pizza for all intents and purposes. Just something that, hey, you’ll just never have, ’cause it’s loaded full of a variety of non-vegan ingredients. Kitchen 17 did a fantastic job in making something great-tasting and actually vegan. Free games abound in the restaurant itself for playing with your friends, from Jenga to Candyland, adding to the relaxed vibe.
5. Kal’ish Kal’ish
Offers one of the best vegan burgers I’ve ever had. It’s a family-owned 100% plant-based restaurant located slightly north of campus in Uptown. Along with their burgers, Kal’ish serves all-day breakfast and weekend brunch.
6. Sultan’s Market
My go-to place in the city for any kind of falafel. The best deal in store is the $7 vegetarian combo that comes with falafel, hummus, pita, and your choice of rice and salad.
7. Mild 2 Hot
Not only do they have very nice food, but fantastic service, too. The owners of this restaurant were quite hospitable, and each time they tried to do that little something more in order to make one enjoy their meal. Things I really love ordering here are vegetable biryani, vegetable samosas, and once a month, a vegan buffet night.
8. Dimo’s
Dimo’s is another great option for vegan pizza and is located in a few neighborhoods throughout the city. It’s slightly cheaper than Kitchen 17 with one (very large) slice costing only $4. A must-have from Dimo’s is the Vegan Mac, but the menu features a variety of options that make choosing just one pretty difficult. If you’re still hungry, they also offer vegan cheesy bread and homemade vegan brownies.
9. Demera Ethiopian Restaurant Demera’s is out of the way, a little expensive, but definitely well worth the extra trip and expense. The owners are trying as hard as they can to make Demera as authentic as possible, and it seems they really do.
The food is served on Ethiopian flatbread and you’re encouraged to eat with your hands using the bread as a utensil of sorts to soak up sauces and flavors. This was hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten, and Demera offers a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options.
10. LYFE Kitchen LYFE has a few different locations throughout Chicago, which makes it pretty accessible, no matter where you are in the city. LYFE stands for Love Your Food Everyday, pretty self explanatory as it shows they want you to make love to your food every day. Don’t forget to ask for their vegan menu as they have a few different menu options.
11. Upton’s Breakroom
In West Town, Upton’s Breakroom makes comfort food based on the production line of seitan products but taken into new directions. Creative and tasty takes on the sandwich and salad; don’t miss their mac and cheese and BBQ jackfruit sandwich. Casual atmosphere, with frequent events focused on community.
12. Althea
For a fancier dinner, Althea is on the 7th floor of Saks Fifth Avenue on Michigan Avenue. This fine dining, plant-based restaurant is run by celebrity chef Matthew Kenney. He has elaborately and variously prepared a menu inspired by different cuisines from around the world. Its presentation is just as delightful as its taste, making it another great choice for special occasions.
13. Soul Vegan
If you’re craving Southern-inspired vegan comfort food, Soul Vegan offers hearty options like vegan mac and cheese, BBQ twists, and Southern fried tofu. Their dishes are available at various locations within the city including farmers markets, and they also operate a food truck, making it convenient to grab their soulful meals on the go.
14. Eris Brewery and Cider House
Rounding out an unexpected smattering of vegan options, Eris Brewery is a wellrounded find in Old Irving Park-mostly for its roasted cauliflower that locals can’t get enough of. Pair that with one of their house-brewed beers or ciders for the complete experience.
15. Arami This West Town sushi spot is a great option for some plant-based rolls. While not strictly vegan per se, Arami touts a number of impressive vegan options, like seaweed salads and a variety of vegetable rolls. Their use of fresh, high-quality ingredients alone is worth a visit.
How to live vegan in Chicago:
Farmers’ Markets: Throughout the city are numerous farmers’ markets that carry local produce and artisanal vegan products. Check out either the Green City Market or the Logan Square Farmers Market for organic finds.
Grocers such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other specialty food shops dot the city. And, more and more co-ops are carrying vegan basics and specialty vegan products.
Cooking Classes: Look for the cooking classes featuring the vegan dishes. These could be one great method of improving your cooking and also one great means to get in touch with other vegans.
