Where to eat vegan in Chicago & beyond

In this newsy round-up, check out some vegan offerings in Chicago and surrounding areas. At the end, I also point out some touristy things to do in between meals.

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After opening in 1983, Chicago Diner has become a veritable institution. At this vegetarian restaurant, most everything can be veganized.

The menu includes all kinds of diner classics like nachos, melt sandwiches, jalapeño poppers, pierogi quesadillas, and poutine.

Chicago Diner has two locations – the original diner-style location and another in Logan Square.

If you can only get one thing on the menu, the Radical Reuben has to be it. This decadent sandwich is one of my favorite reubens anywhere.

It is made with thinly sliced corned beef-style seitan on marbled rye with non-dairy cheese, sauerkraut, grilled peppers and onions, and Thousand Island dressing.

By the way, if you can’t finish the sandwich, it reheats beautifully in the air fryer!

(Don’t have a trip to Chicago in your future? Grab the official Chicago Diner vegan reuben sandwich recipe to make at home instead!)

On the side, I recommend the flashed greens. They have a hint of ginger, smokiness from a hot skillet, and a buttery edge.

Of course, one of the best parts about visiting a diner is getting brunch. Chicago Diner makes my favorite breakfast in the Windy City. Breakfast is served daily until 3 pm, in addition to their regular menu.

The breakfast bowl is a dream come true with tofu scramble, biscuits, and seitan sausage gravy on top of potato hash.

For true bliss, add a still-warm-from-the oven cinnamon roll! (The cinnamon rolls are now served all day. Don’t leave without one!)

I also recommend the country fried steak, which is huge and filling with crisp breading and toothsome seitan underneath.

It comes topped with creamy gravy on a bed of mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables.

Other Chicago Diner favorites:

The buffalo wings are perfectly crisp on the outside with just the right amount of chew and plenty of spicy buffalo sauce.

(They also offer barbecue sauce if you prefer.)

The smoked tofu club really scratches that nostalgia itch.

It’s made with seitan bacon, deli slices, crisp lettuce, and tomato on three layers of bread per section.

The spicy crispy chicken sandwich is made with breaded seitan, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and onion on a wheat bun. It’s finished with ranch dressing.

Be sure to leave room for dessert! Chicago Diner is known for their malts, shakes, and cakes – like this raspberry mocha cheesecake.

If you’re looking for somewhere to go for a fancy birthday or trendy date night, make reservations at Planta Queen, an upscale vegan restaurant with a very cool aesthetic. The food is next level.

In addition to their Chicago restaurant, this chain has locations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Florida, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

My favorite dishes are the bang bang broccoli with sweet chili & peanut sauce and udon noodles with truffle mushroom cream.

The noodles are reminiscent of mushroom stroganoff but with udon. I’ve also heard raves about their sushi.

Although it sounded like everything I’d love, I was less enamored with the bao sliders when I tried them.

The sliders are filled with chick’n fried mushrooms and hoisin sauce, but they could have used something more to make them pop.

If comfort food is what you crave, don’t miss Kale My Name. They have a variety of tempting dishes like cauliflower wings, nachos, mac & cheese balls, meal-sized salads, wraps, tacos, and burgers.

Dine inside or go around the back to their large outdoor dining area.

The southern supper is a decadent platter that’s worth writing home about. It comes with fried cauliflower, a mac ball, garlicky kale, and crispy fries with dipping sauces.

Another favorite is the oyster mushroom sandwich. Oyster mushrooms are breaded and fried until crispy then piled on a brioche bun with kale, tomato, onion, pickles, and awesome sauce.

On the side, a basket of fries just ready for dunking.

Want to go somewhere casual and laidback? Try Vegan Plate, a plant-based Thai restaurant.

(If you like a glass of wine with dinner, be aware that they don’t sell alcohol.)

For starters, grab the fried dumplings or vegan chicken satay, which is served with a mouthwatering peanut dipping sauce and fresh cucumber salad.

There are so many inviting entrees to choose from like P.E.T. (pumpkin, eggplant, and tofu), drunken noodles, jungle noodles, and more.

But who can refuse vegan orange chicken when it’s an option? This delicious dish is a rare find in restaurants.

You get a choice of proteins (shown here with seitan) lightly breaded and covered in an orange sauce. The sticky sweet breading has a funnel cake vibe. It’s served with brown rice.

The makers of Upton’s Naturals seitan have a small restaurant called Liberation Kitchen (formerly Upton’s Breakroom).

Order at the counter, and then eat at one of the few tables inside or outdoors during warm weather.

Many of their dishes feature Upton’s Naturals seitan like the nacho plate, or sandwiches like banh mi, Chicago-style Updogs, Chicago-style Italian, or barbecue jackfruit.

For a side dish, you’ll definitely want to grab a batch of their fried bacon mac. This dairy-free mac and cheese is dotted with seitan bacon and fried on the grill.

Going at breakfast? Be aware that the options are limited and pre-made. However, you can get a donut from their donut case, which are fried but on the cakey side.

For other sweet treats, check out their soft serve, milkshakes, or cake from Pie Pie My Darling, a renowned local dessert-maker.

This vegan fast food chain started in Southern California and has branched out to other states. There used to be several Native Foods locations in Chicago, but now there’s one left standing.

Expect plant-based comfort food like indulgent appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and bowls.

As an appetizer or meal, I recommend the native nachos. This decadent dish is made with black beans, roasted corn, and fresh peppers on a bed of tortilla chips and covered in cashew cheese and chipotle sauce.

The chicken run ranch is always a good choice. A battered and fried seitan cutlet is served on a whole wheat bun with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and ranch dressing.

For dessert, be sure to grab an oatmeal crème pie.

The cinnamon rolls are served fresh, hot, and undeniably delicious.

And if you feel like branching out from cinnamon rolls, they have other treats like brownies, cookies, and soft serve.

That Portland, Oregon fan favorite now has a Chicago location. Plus, they’re open from 6 am – 3 am. Plenty of time to get your dessert in!

In addition to non-vegan donuts, they have lots of clearly labeled vegan options in a range of creative flavors. Expect things like apple fritters, maple bars, Bavarian cream, raspberry-filled, and more.

If you like, order ahead on Toast Tab. Just look for the vegan category.

Amitabul Simply Vegan is an all-vegan Korean restaurant. From the outside, it looks like it would be small. However, once inside, it’s surprisingly spacious with ample seating and a casual vibe.

To start, freshly made dumplings are served with spiced miso sauce.

When I had them, the dumplings were sparsely filled and a little waterlogged, but the flavor was good.

For entrees, try Amitabul Energy Nut made with thick whole wheat noodles, steamed green beans, bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes, cashews, and almonds.

The Tibetan High Noon has similar ingredients, but with warming flavors of curry. The portions are enormous and good for sharing.

Other popular items include Dr. K’s cure all noodle soup and green heaven.

If you like to eat breakfast bright and early like I do, get your fix at Lyfe Kitchen, a non-vegan chain restaurant with designated vegan options. It’s a casual, order at the counter kind of place.

My go-to is the vegan burrito with local tofu, roasted mushrooms, and tomatoes wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. On the side, salsa fresca & crispy breakfast potatoes with chipotle aioli. (The potatoes are the best part!)

Caffeinate your meal with a delicious latte. They offer almond milk at no additional charge or oat milk for a dollar more. 

Ethiopian food tends to be very vegan-friendly, and that is definitely true at Demera, where they have a vegan section on the menu.

Choose a table in the dining room, or in warm weather months, grab a table outside. (Before you go, I recommend making a reservation. They fill up!)

Choose from these flavorful plant-based options:

• Misir wot: Spicy red lentils in a spicy berbere sauce
• Dinich wot: Potatoes in a spicy berbere sauce
• Gomen: Collards slow cooked with onions, garlic, and ginger
• Yatkilt wat: Carrots, green beans, potatoes, and zucchini cooked in onion, garlic, and ginger
• Kik alicha: Split yellow peas cooked with onions and garlic
• Quosta: Spinach cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger
• Kayseer tibs: Beets and carrots seasoned with cinnamon
• Tikle gomen: Cabbage and carrots cooked with onions, garlic, and ginger
• Shiro: Spicy legumes with ginger, rue, bishops weed, and garlic

I recommend getting a sampler platter, so that you can try all of the vegan dishes served on tangy injera. Everything I’ve tried has been terrific.

This casual vegan restaurant is known for their pizzas – including gluten-free pizzas, which can be harder to find.

I haven’t tried the pizza yet, but I’ve had their nachos (shown above) with vegan cheese, splashes of chili, and mounds of spring lettuce mix topped with ranch dressing and salsa.

The Big K burger is topped with lots of sauce, non-dairy cheddar, onions, tomatoes, and pickles on a sesame seed bun.

The overstuffed seitan gyro is topped with onions, tomatoes, and ranch dressing on flatbread.

I have heard good things, but my experience at Kitchen 17 was underwhelming, unfortunately. The food wasn’t bad, but sloppy, and the service was lackluster at best. With so many other places in Chicago I’d like to try or revisit, I wouldn’t rush back.

Fancy Plants Café is an intimate all-vegan restaurant, where you order at the counter, and then seat yourself.

The croissant sandwich is filled with a JUST Egg patty, seitan sausage, tomato slices, and non-dairy cheese. (It’s pretty dry. Some kind of sauce or spread would go a long way here.)

It’s served with salad or potato chips.

The breakfast burrito is packed with a turmeric-heavy tofu scramble, roasted potatoes, black beans, tomatoes, and portobello mushrooms.

It’s served with salsa and tortilla chips.

Judging from our meals, it seemed like the food was made off-site and then warmed at the café. It was all edible, but I wouldn’t hurry back.

This popular donut chain has over 30 locations in Chicago and surrounding areas.

In addition to non-vegan donuts, they offer two vegan options – cinnamon sugar coated or chocolate glazed.

They’re not revelatory, but they’re tasty, fried donuts that pair well with coffee.

For more vegan donut options, I’ve also heard great things about Beacon Doughnuts.

Roughly an hour and a half outside of Chicago is Pig Minds in Machesney Park, Illinois.

It’s a 100% vegan brewery with mouthwatering comfort foods like nachos, sandwiches, pizza, and tacos.

While it’s not in Chicago proper, I sometimes enjoy hitting Pig Minds on my way into or out of town.

It’s also conveniently located if you’re heading to Milwaukee or Madison, Wisconsin or McHenry County, Illinois. Worthy of a road-trip stop!

While breweries are often vegan-friendly, a fully vegan brewery is even better!

The inside looks like a lot of microbreweries with metal finishes and wood tables. But they’ve made the space uniquely theirs with artwork featuring pigs.

Whenever I visit, it’s clear they’re doing good business. They’re always bustling with an array of families, couples, grandparents, and kids.

I could happily make a meal of appetizers, and no place is that more true than Pig Minds. If you love salty snacks as much as I do, prepare to be tempted!

Try their fried pickle rolls stuffed with non-dairy cheese and served with ranch for dipping or nachos.

For the meal, you really can’t beat one of their Detroit-style pizzas. It’s out of this world.

Be warned, though. It’s only available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So plan accordingly.

They also offer a traditional-style pizza pie, which is delicious as well and available anytime.

If you’re hankering for something handheld, try a reuben, burger, tacos, or fried chikin’ sandwich in a choice of flavors.

Of course, if you like beer, this is a great place to be. Grab a flight to find a new favorite. Then buy a six pack to take home with you!

(To see Pig Minds in action, check out the Instagram reel from my birthday visit.)

I had high hopes for Tata’s Pierogi, a small order at the counter-style fast casual restaurant in Elk Grove Village, about 50 minutes outside of Chicago.

In addition to non-vegan pierogi, they have multiple vegan flavors – including sweet kraut, potato & onion, sauerkraut & mushrooms, sauerkraut, and potato & sauerkraut. For dessert, they also have sweet blueberry pierogi.

I ordered the vegan sampler, which is $14.99 for 10 pierogi. It arrived with non-vegan sour cream on the plate. When I asked about it, the server scoffed that obviously it wasn’t vegan and removed it.

Then I cut into a dumpling, and there was dairy cheese inside. I had to flag down a different server, because mine was nowhere to be found. They took the plate back to have it re-made, but the staff was really indifferent and unapologetic about it.

The pierogi was fine, but not terribly filling or any better than the frozen kind I have at home. I wouldn’t go back.

Of course, it can’t be all eating, all the time. You’ve got to do something in between those noshes!

You’ll have no shortage of options with museums, shows, and if you’re anything like me, lots of fun grocery stores to explore. (H Mart, anyone?) But here are just a few suggestions of things to do in the Windy City.

Cloud Gate is a metallic bean inside of Millennium Park that reflects its surroundings, making you appreciate the striking beauty of the city even more.

It’s also a fun place to people watch as groups of family and friends interact with the piece and take pictures.

Afterwards, walk around Millennium Park, visit the landscaped gardens and art installations, and even catch a concert if the timing is right.

I saw the Flight of the Conchords there many years ago from one of the lawn seats. For a view of the stage, I recommend getting one of the numbered seats instead. But if you just want to picnic and watch the concert on a screen, it’s a pleasant way to spend an evening.

The riverwalk alongside the Chicago River is one of my favorite places in Chicago, because you can admire the architecture and inherent beauty of the city without having to contend with honking motorists or swarms of frazzled pedestrians.

It’s slow moving and serene – folks walking with dogs, boats setting sail on architecture tours, and exercisers going on their daily jogs.

You can take the riverwalk to Michigan Avenue and then head upstairs to the Magnificent Mile, or you can continue on the riverwalk all the way to Lake Michigan.

This popular tourist destination was once a shipping facility. Now it’s a cultural and recreational hub with a ferris wheel, IMAX theater, museums, and restaurants.

Enjoy the waterfront access and admire the lake and city skyline.

Check out the breathtaking views from the city’s tallest building at Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower). This iconic skyscraper stands at 1,450 feet tall and includes an observation deck.

Pretend you’re Bueller, and take a pic looking down at the city below.

Or go out on the glass floor of the Skydeck on the 103^rd floor for a unique vantage point to the streets below.

The Field Museum is renowned for its impressive exhibits and collections of fossils, minerals, and artifacts.

While you’re there, learn about ancient cultures, ecology, and the history of the Earth.

And of course, stop by and say hello to Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.

Get a glimpse of the Emerald City at 14.40 acre Oz Park.

With statues of the Scarecrow, Tinman, Cowardly Lion, Dorothy & Toto, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled over the rainbow.

Located in Lincoln Park, take pictures with the statues, admire the beautiful flowers, and let the kids enjoy Dorothy’s Playground.

Of course, if you’re a baseball fan, you’ll want to head over to Wrigley Field for a Chicago Cubs game.

Located in the Lakeview neighborhood, this iconic baseball stadium has a relaxed, old-school vibe and is surrounded by plenty of bars and restaurants.

If you’re a fan of The Bob Newhart Show, in which Bob played a psychiatrist and lived with his wife, Emily, in Chicago, go see his apartment complex.

In the opening of the show, you can see Bob walking towards his apartment building.

(By the way, in honor of his Chicago connection, there’s also a statue of Bob sitting on his office couch on the Navy Pier.)

Content & photos updated October 10, 2024 from an earlier post on April 19, 2018.