Where can you eat as a vegan in Chicago? On a very cold trip to Chicago with my husband, I found some great, good and bad options. We were based in the River North area – but also spent time in Downtown or The Loop as they call it there.
Great Vegan Eatz in Chicago
We were happy to find a True Food Kitchen 10 minutes walk from our hotel – that’s as far as we wanted to walk in 20F/-7C! These ‘Californians’ have been spoilt with the balmy SoCal weather and our clothes definitely were not suited to this cold. Although True Food Kitchen is not all-vegan, it always has healthy and tasty options for vegans and vegetarians. Be wary of the menu though, it somewhat confusingly uses V for Vegan and VEG for vegetarian. This branch in River North had the rural-warehouse vibe of all TFKs but more space than some others I have tried. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, it still managed to be warm and cozy. I’ve always been a fan of the delicious Ancient Grains bowl but I also tried the Winter Immunity bowl – bit too garlicky for me but very hearty and warming. My husband loved the Unbeetable Burger and said it was his favorite of all the vegan burgers he’s tried (including Beyond and Impossible).
Our special ‘date night’ treat was the all-vegan up-market restaurant ALTHEA, another of Matthew Kenney’s acclaimed plant-based restaurants. The amazing views of the Miracle Mile at night compensate for the weird location in a SAKS Fifth Avenue store! The menu was short but fascinating, with some unusual dishes such as crab cakes and a cheese plate – all vegan of course. I went ‘raw’ with the vibrant and fresh-tasting Mightyvine Tomato and Zucchini Lasagna. My husband liked the burger offering, but not as much as the literally Unbeetable at TFK. We were both disappointed with the dessert – a Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake that was dry and not very chocolatey. The server gave us extra ice cream to make up for that. ALTHEA is definitely worth a visit for its unusual setting and original vegan creations – but, be warned, it ain’t cheap!
Good Vegan Eatz in Chicago
As Brits, we love a good Indian curry (after the pub of course). Unfortunately, much Indian food is not vegan due to the prevalent use of ghee or clarified butter in their dishes. The Happy Cow app pointed us to Vermilion, an acclaimed Indian restaurant, on West Hubbard Street. This street has a great variety of ‘watering-holes’ – and we loved the historic vibe and friendly staff at O’Callaghan’s. In contrast, Vermilion looked more like a 70’s nightclub with its mirrors, glitzy lighting and leather seating. Unfortunately, its menu did not show vegetarian and vegan options, so we had to discuss the vegan possibilities at length with the server. The appetizers were very strange – the over-greasy poppadums arrived in a mini-bicycle and the other dish looked like tiny puffballs. The entrees were okay but not memorable with limited choices for vegans.
Veggie Grill has four locations in Chicago and we took an icy walk along the river to visit the N. Wells venue for brunch. I’ve had bad times at Veggie Grills in the past – overloud music, indifferent staff and cold food – but this was a good one! It’s always nice to have a hearty brunch on a cold day – and my Rustic Farm Bowl was piping hot with very generous helpings. The view of the trains rumbling by above our heads was also an iconic Chicago experience.
Nordstrom stores have the nicest restrooms in any mall and always have plant-based milks and vegan treats in their Nordstrom Ebar coffee shops. Love them!
Bad Vegan Eatz in Chicago
A quick breakfast visit to Lyfe Kitchen was less than impressive, but an ok option for a casual meal. They seem to have cut back on their vegan choices though – and the piece of plastic in my burrito showed a lack of care. I didn’t even get a refund for that!
The Art Institute of Chicago has an impressive and massive collection of art but they certainly don’t have the same range when it comes to vegan food. The Museum Café has a group of food stations but all I could eat was rice and cauliflower. Weirdly, they did have a vegan cake that was tasty and filling.
We stayed at The Gwen Hotel, yet another hotel that fails to cater for vegan guests. The in-room dining had no vegan options and the Kostali restaurant was a meat fest. For breakfast, the only vegan choice was oatmeal and fruit. Finally, I wish that American hotels had tea and electric kettles in their rooms – as a Brit I need tea, hot and often. I’ve now invested in a collapsible kettle for trips away.
Have fun – and yummy vegan food in Chicago! Don’t miss the art or skyscrapers, but maybe visit in summer…
