chicago vegan dining guide.

the past couple months, i've noticed an increase in messages from people coming to visit chicago & looking for recommendations for vegan restaurants. sooo ... i decided to put together a little dining guide of my favorite places in the city.

so after a day of this ...

& this ... 
                                            
& obviously this ...

here are my favorite places to grab grub ...

first & most importantly ... my top vegan/vegetarian only joints :
  • chicago diner : the true vegan chicago staple.
  • quesadilla la reina del sur : 100% vegan/vegetarian mexican food. "carne asada" on fleek.
  • kitchen 17 : the k burger & pizzas are legit. cons = sometimes they run out of menu items.
  • handlebar : my fave spot for vegan brunch + awesome buffalo wrap if you do lunch/din. 

for pizza :
  • lou malnati's : don't trust anyone who says giordano's is the best chicago deep dish. does not compare to lou's. 
  • forno rosso : my new fave for neapolitan 'za + in the ultra trendy west loop. 
  • the boiler room : two thumbs up for vegans & non-vegans alike. with great drink specials.

asian cuisine :
  • coast : bomb sushi + byob.
  • saigon sisters : one of my favorite spots for pho in the city.
  • wasabi : legit vegan ramen. 
  • slurping turtle : for frequent top chef master takashi spottings.
  • le colonial : go for the spring rolls ... stay for the spring rolls. (also, separate vegan menu!)

quick bites :
  • le pain quotidien : so much vegan stuff ... that is also 100% organic. 
  • left coast food + juice : again, so much vegan stuff (the tostadas are my jam) + juice!
  • lyfe kitchen : i know this is a "chain," but if you're coming from oklahoma, you may not have had it!
  • doc b's fresh kitchen : get the california salad, add tofu, sub carrot/ginger dressing, thank me later.
  • athenian room : my favorite hangover food ... a salad covered with fries & greek dressing. come on. 
nicer spots :
  • girl & the goat : high-end dining with a separate vegan menu! (best shishitos in the city.)
  • bad hunter : no words. just go.
  • lula cafe : vegan options for those looking for something a little more hipster. 
  • monteverde : give me all the pasta. 
  • leña brava : an impossible to get into rick bayless spot.
dessert :
  • sprinkles : again, i know there are lots of these. but you cannot beat the vegan red velv. i'm sorry, but you can't. 
  • pie pie my darling : can be found at handlbar & misc. other vegan shops in the city. SEEK THIS OUT.
  • stan's donuts : dessert, breakfast, whatever.

resident chicagoans ... what am i missing?! any glaring omissions?? other category suggestions?? maybe ... an "off the beaten path" list? feel free to weigh in! 

visitors ... enjoy!! 

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Comments

  1. Pizzeria Serio has vegan cheese. Also Paulie Gee's has a bunch of vegan pizzas plus Pie Pie My Darling cake for dessert.

    I'm adding a few new places to try to my list!

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    1. ahhh i've got a paulie gee's post coming up!! stand by!! i had no idea about pizzeria serio. it's right by my house so i'll be there soon!! thanks for the tip!!!

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  2. Oh, another fave of mine is Kāl'ish. They are amazing!

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    1. i don't love kal'ish. :( i know, it's sad. i just didn't like it!! (besides the cinny bun!!)

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  3. The Chicago House of 'Za sells nothing but vegan pizza. For those of us who are sadly vegan AND gluten free... they have a delicious gf crust (about 1.50 extra). It's not Lou's...but Lou's gf crust isn't vegan. Nice little family owned business. I would definitely go back, and I highly recommend it :-)

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  5. For Quick Bites, I’d add Brightwok - all vegan except for meat as a protein option! For Asian, I’d add Arami - great sushi and appetizers; they even use vegan mayo for rolls and sauces. For Nicer Spots, I’d add Alinea - definitely a once in a lifetime experience, but it was the best vegan meal I’ve ever had!

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  6. I agree with the comment above – Arami is fantastic and they have a whole separate vegan menu. I've also heard great things about Longacre Pizza in Uptown, which is not entirely vegan, but has a handful of delicious looking options.

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  7. Sushi Sunda has a whole vegan menu

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    ReplyDelete

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