The best healthy restaurants in Chicago prove that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring. We have rounded up a list of restaurants that you can feel great about visiting.
We focused this list on sit down restaurants. If you are looking for a healthy meal to go, check out Real Good Stuff Co., Sweetgreen, and Protein Bar.
Last updated: March 2022
The Best Healthy Restaurants in Chicago:
Table of Contents
This list of the best healthy restaurants in Chicago is organized by neighborhood. We have also indicated if the restaurants serve breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in addition to dinner.
Edgewater:
Alice and Friends
Edgewater
Asian, Vegan/Vegetarian
Alice and Friends serves a seasonal Asian-inspired menu featuring roasted sesame miso ramen, Burmese noodle salad, golden Yuba fried rice, royal pho, and chow mein. A small kids menu is available too.
Hyde Park:
B’Gabs
Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch
A vegan scratch kitchen serving gluten-free and soy-free foods. The menu has jackfruit nuggets, orange “chicken” bites made with fried oyster mushrooms, buddha bowls, birria tacos, and vegan meat burgers.
Lakeview:
The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen
Kurdish, Vegetarian
Chicago’s first and only Kurdish restaurant serves a menu with plenty of options for vegetarians plus poultry, lamb, beef, and seafood dishes. The food is elegant and full of fresh flavors.
Lincoln Park:
Blue Door Farm Stand
American, Lunch, Healthy
This light filled restaurant serves seasonal American cuisine. The Brussels & kale salad is one of the most popular salads in Chicago; it comes generously topped with Parmesan, bacon, and toasted almonds. The lunch menu also includes some brunch items and sandwiches. At dinner, a handful of larger entrees are served in addition to sharable snacks, soups, and salads. Blue Door Farm Stand serves weekend brunch, weekday lunch, and dinner nightly. This is a sister restaurant to the more formal Blue Door Kitchen & Garden in the Gold Coast.
Left Coast
Breakfast, Lunch, Healthy, Vegetarian/Vegan, Gluten-free, Kid friendly
Left Coast was created with the goal of making health food delicious and convenient. The menu includes cold pressed juice, smoothies, and healthy fruit and vegetable forward meals like açaí bowls, avocado toast, salads, wraps, and grain bowls. Many items are vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free.
Summer House Santa Monica
American, Healthy, Lunch, Kid-friendly
It feels like summer all year long in this sunlight restaurant with a rosé cart. The menu highlights lighter California style food with a menu that includes several salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas. Summer House serves weekend brunch, weekday lunch, and dinner nightly.
The Loop:
Brightwok Kitchen
Asian, Lunch, Healthy, Fast-casual, Vegetarian/Vegan
A fast-casual restaurant serving cold salads and hot bowls that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free. Diners can choose from a menu of hot bowls or build their own. Options include a sweet umami mushroom bowl and a kick’n panang bowl with their cashew curry. Brightwok’s Loop location serves weekday lunch only.
Left Coast
Breakfast, Lunch, Healthy, Kid friendly
See full description under Lincoln Park, this location closes at 3 pm daily and is only open on weekdays.
Old Town:
Kanela Breakfast Club
Brunch/Breakfast, Lunch, Healthy
This popular brunch spot has several locations in Chicago. The menu has a perfect mix of breakfast and lunch, sweet and savory, and healthy and indulgent menu items.
River North:
Beatrix
Healthy, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A relaxed restaurant serving American fare with plenty of healthy options. If you want something more indulgent, check out the pastry counter. Beatrix also has locations in Streeterville and West Loop. The River North and Streeterville locations are close to each other and this can cause confusion.
Edie’s All Day Cafe
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
An all day cafe & bar in the former 3 Greens Market/Cocello/Dillman’s space. Edie’s has coffee, pastries, cold pressed juice, and smoothies, plus a lunch/dinner menu featuring snacks, salads, sandwiches, and flatbread pizza. It’s a great place for a casual coffee, happy hour with friends, or co-working.
Ema
Mediterranean, Lunch
Ema combines a lighter California style of cooking and Mediterranean small plates. Signature dishes include spicy hummus and lamb Kefta kebabs and the menu features a variety of grilled seafood.
True Food Kitchen
Healthy, Lunch, Vegan/Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Kid friendly
A restaurant serving consciously-sourced seasonal globally inspired cuisine including salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, pizza, poke bowls, and tacos. A large number of menu items are vegan, vegetarian, and/or gluten-free.
Roscoe Village:
Sinya Mediterranean
Mediterranean, Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch
Sinya serves Mediterranean classics like hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, grape leaves, shawarma, gyros, and kabobs. Plus several different salads and wraps. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am until 9 pm.
Streeterville:
Lyfe Kitchen
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Healthy, Vegetarian/Vegan
A health focused restaurant serving a breakfast menu and an all day menu every day. The menus include several smoothies, salads, bowls, sandwiches, flatbreads, and snacks. A variety of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.
Beatrix
Healthy, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Find full description under River North.
Kanela Breakfast Club
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Healthy
Find full description under Old Town.
West Loop:
Aba
Mediterranean
A restaurant with a menu that explores the cuisines of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece. This rooftop restaurant is one of Chicago’s prettiest outdoor spaces. The menu staples include short rib hummus, char-grilled lamb chops, and skirt steak shawarma. Healthier options include kebabs and seafood mains.
Beatrix
Healthy, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Find full description under River North.
Wicker Park:
MAK (Modern Asian Kitchen)
Asian, Chinese, Vegetarian/Vegan, Kid-friendly
A modern Asian restaurant committed to using high quality ingredients and offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Their Awesome Broccoli Chicken and the Korean Fried Chicken “Wangs” are menu staples. MAK’s food is flavorful without being heavy or greasy. The quinoa bowls with a protein and veggie are a nice healthier option.
Native Foods
Vegetarian/Vegan, Lunch
This cafe has four locations in Chicago and a menu that is 100% plant-based. The menu has a mix of plant based meats and vegetable dishes like buddha bowls, wraps, and salads.
Kanela Breakfast Club
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Find full description under Old Town.
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