A comprehensive guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chicago. This list includes over 45 restaurants that offer a strong number of vegan and/or vegetarian option on their menus.
This list of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chicago includes both restaurants that are entirely plant-based and restaurants that have a wide variety of vegan and/or vegetarian menu items. We didn’t include restaurants with just a couple meat free options.
Last updated: March 2022
The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago:
Table of Contents
We have organized this list of best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chicago by neighborhood and indicated which restaurants serve breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in addition to dinner.
Andersonville:
Gadabout
American, Vegetarian/Vegan
Gadabout’s menu is full of vegetarian, and gluten-free items like braised tofu, carrot hummus, and a grilled mushroom salad. Meat dishes include lamb leg spaetzle and grilled pork jowl. Brunch is served on weekends.
m.henry
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Bakery, Vegetarian/Vegan
A bakery and byob cafe that serves breakfast and lunch daily (they are not open for dinner). The menu balances sweet and savory and offers dishes like rustic peasant quiche, a Latina omeletta, a fried egg sandwich, Japanese style soufflé hot cakes, lemon-raspberry French toast, and crepes. Starting at 11 am, sandwiches, bowls, and salads are available. Separate vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free menus are available.
Kopi Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
“A travelers cafe”, Kopi Cafe is a casual bohemian cafe serving a large breakfast menu all day plus sandwiches. The focus is vegetarian, vegan, and seafood cuisine. Kopi Cafe is open from 10 am until 7 pm daily, with the exception of Monday nights when a live music series goes from 8 pm until 10 pm.
Fiya
Middle Eastern, Vegetarian
Fiya serves Israeli soul food influenced by Arab, Palestinian, Kurdish, and African cuisine. The dinner menu has hummus served with handmade pita, shakshuka, Georgian bread boats, Moroccan style trout, lamb kofta, and Iranian Mahi Ba Somagh. A large patio offers al fresco dining.
Jin Ju
Korean, Asian, Vegetarian
Jin Ju serves traditional Korean cuisine in a modern space. The menu includes chap chae, bulgogi, and a variety of bibimbap. Many of the dishes can be prepared to be vegetarian.
Bucktown:
Irazu
Costa Rican, Lunch, Vegetarian
Iraq’s sunny patio is an ideal place for a meal on a summer evening. The menu includes empanadas, tacos, sandwiches, burritos, and the national dish of Costa Rica, Casado. The two most important things to know about Irazu are that it is BYOB and cash only.
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:
Saucy Porka
Hyde Park
Latin, Asian, Vegetarian/Vegan, Gluten-free, Lunch
A Latin-Asian fusion restaurant serving meals like rice bowls, bao tacos, and banh mi. The menu has sections devoted to vegan and vegetarian cuisine that includes items like a tofu banh mi, tostones, and a Puerto Rican rice bowl. Gluten-free food is available too. There is a second location in the South Loop.
Strings Ramen Shop
Lakeview, Hyde Park, Chinatown
Japanese, Ramen, Asian, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
A ramen restaurant that makes fresh noodles daily. The menu includes over a dozen different ramen including a few vegan options. There are additional locations in Chinatown and Lakeview.
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.
Coalfire
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
As the name suggests, the pizza here is coal fired in an 800 degree oven. It comes out slightly charred. The menu has 17 pizzas, including two vegan pizzas, plus the option to build your own. There is a second location in West Town.
Chicago Diner
Lakeview, Logan Square
Vegetarian/Vegan, Kid-friendly
This vegan diner is one of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chicago. It’s known for things like the radical reuben, vegan milkshakes, veggie burgers, brunch, and cakes. The Chicago dinner has an additional location in Logan Square.
Lincoln Park:
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.
Logan Square:
Lula Cafe
Logan Square
American, Breakfast, Lunch, Vegetarian
A favorite restaurant in Logan Square among locals and the chef community, Lula Cafe has been serving farm to table cuisine for over twenty years. The restaurant takes pride in serving adventurous food for vegetarians plus meat and fish from sustainable sources. In addition to dinner, Lula Cafe serves breakfast and lunch. The menu has plates like braised lamb with turnip, rosemary, green strawberry, and first spring watercress. A current vegetarian offering is winter squash agnolotti with three sisters pecans, parmesan, and tomato butter. In 2022, Lula Cafe received a James Beard Award nomination.
The Boiler Room
Logan Square
Pizza, Vegetarian/ Vegan
A thin-crust pizza joint serving both pizza by the slice and full pies. The menu includes classic and creative pizzas, the option to build your own, and a vegan pizza. Gluten-free pizza is available too. The Boiler Room is known by locals for its PB&J special which includes a slice of pizza, a PBR, and a shot to Jameson Whiskey for $12.50.
The Spice Room
Logan Square
Indian, Vegetarian
The Spice Room serves traditional Indian food made with passion and fresh ingredients. The menu has sections featuring vegetarian dishes such as paneer butter masala, channa masala, and vegetable korma. Beyond the vegetarian fare, the large menu covers all the classics: chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, and lamb madras.
Paulie Gee’s
Logan Square
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
Paul Gee’s serves pizza, beer, and cocktails. This pizzeria serves two styles of pizza: New York Style thin-crust and a Detroit inspired style that they call Logan Squares. The menu has half a dozen vegan pies plus pizzas with gourmet ingredients like Berkshire soppressata, housemade bacon jam, dried bing cherries, and prosciutto di Parma.
The Loop:
Cafecito
Loop, Gold Coast
Cuban, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
This casual and affordable Cuban sandwich shop has two locations in The Loop (7 N Wells and 26 East Ida B Wells Drive) and one in the Gold Coast. The menu features over two dozen pressed sandwiches plus several vegan specialities. In the mornings a full breakfast menu is offered.
Brightwok Kitchen
The Loop
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, Vegetarian/Vegan, Gluten-free, Kid friendly
See full description under Lincoln Park. This location is only open on weekdays and closes at 3 pm.
Norwood Park:
Amitabul
Norwood Park
Korean, Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch
Amitabul serves a vegan restaurant serving organic Korean cuisine including noodle soups, bibimbop, stir fry dishes, and savory Korean pancakes. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Saturday.
Old Town:
Old Jerusalem Restaurant
Old Town
Middle Eastern, Vegetarian
A casual cafe specializing in traditional Middle Easter food including shawarma, kabobs, and hommos. The menu has large section of vegetarian entrees.
Forastero
Mexican, Asian, Vegan/Vegetarian
This restaurant serves Korean and Mexican inspired cuisine including tacos and rice bowls. A section of the menu caters to vegans and vegetarians.
Pilsen:
5 Rabanitos
Pilsen
Mexican, Kid-friendly, Vegetarian
A BYOB restaurant by XOCO alum Chef Alfonso Sotelo serving beautiful composed authentic Mexican cuisine. Choose from starters, ceviches, tacos, tortas, and main courses like barbacoa beef, carne asada, chicken milanesa, and enchiladas de mole. An outdoor patio provides views of the Senkoe mural on the side of the restaurant’s exterior. The menu has several mouthwatering vegetarian options.
La Esperanza
Pilsen
Mexican, Breakfast, Lunch, Vegan/Vegetarian, Kid-friendly
A traditional and affordable Mexican restaurant known for their mole. The menu is huge and even has a entire plant-based section offering plant-based meats. La Esperanza serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Fridays to Sundays, is closed Tuesdays, and serves breakfast and lunch the rest of the week.
Ravenswood:
Urban Vegan Thai
Ravenswood
Thai, Asian, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
An entirely vegan restaurant specializing in Thai and Asian cuisine. The menu includes both vegetable dishes and meals made with soy-based meats. A mix of noodles, rice, and curry dishes are served.
River North:
Ingrained
River North
Snacks, Vegan, Gluten-free
Ingrained makes vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free snacks. They are known for their raw bars that come in flavors like s’mores, peanut butter cup sundae, and caramel toffee. The menu also has protein truffles, peanut butter cup style “butter cups”, cinnamon rolls, baked goods, and bagels.
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.
Tanta
River North
Peruvian, Vegetarian
Tanta serves Peruvian classics like jalea, lomo saltado, and ceviche. The menu has a vegetarian section with a handful of options. Happy hour takes place on the rooftop bar from 5 pm – 7 pm on weekdays.
Bar Sótano
River North
Mexican, Vegetarian
The entrance to this basement bar is hidden in the alley behind Xoco. The bar has a huge mezcal and tequila menu while the food menu has a seafood and raw bar, vegetable dishes, “deluxe” tacos, and a few larger plates. A five-course chef’s experience is available for $60 per person, with the option to add three cocktails for $25 more. The menu has a variety of vegetarian options.
India House
Indian, Lunch, Vegetarian
India House is considered to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. The restaurant serves traditional Indian cuisine including tandoori items, curries, vindaloos, and plenty of vegetarian dishes. A buffet is offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am until 3 pm for $19.95.
Rogers Park:
Badou Senegalese Cuisine
Rogers Park
African, Senegalese, Vegan/Vegetarian
Badou offers a large menu of West African cuisine including grilled meats and seafood, stews, and rice dishes. The menu has a separate section of vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Smack Dab Bakery
Rogers Park
Bakery, Vegetarian, Vegan
A bakery serving vegan donuts plus vegan and vegetarian breakfast pastries, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and lunch sandwiches and burritos. Smack Dab is open from 8 am until 2 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The restaurant does not serve dinner.
Taste of Peru
Rogers Park
Peruvian, Vegetarian
A casual BYOB Peruvian restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives that is known for serving a wide variety of seafood. The best seller is Guy Fieri’s favorite, the Lomo Saltado, a stir fried steak and vegetable dish served with French fries and rice. One page of the fourteen page menu is devoted to vegetarian dishes.
Roscoe Village:
Lucy’s Cafe
Roscoe Village
Vegan/Vegetarian, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
A family-owned restaurant serving vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals. The menu has vegetable based dishes, egg dishes, and meals using tofu and soy-based meats. Veggie burgers, impossible burgers, and veggie chicken burgers are available. If you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, you might not even notice that this cafe is! The large menu has a big selection of omelets, flatbreads, French toasts, pancakes, waffles, salads, and wraps – there is something for everyone. Lucy’s Cafe does not serve dinner.
Sinya Mediterranean
Roscoe Village
Mediterranean, Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch
Sinya serves Mediterranean classics like hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, grape leaves, shawarma, gyros, and kabobs. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am until 9 pm.
South Loop:
Thai Spoon and Sushi
South Loop
Thai, Sushi, Japanese, Asian, Vegetarian Lunch
Thai Spoon and Sushi serves a large menu that includes both Thai and Japanese food. Thai dishes include curries, fried rice, and noodle dishes like pad Thai and pad see ew. Sushi, maki, nigiri, and sashimi are all on the Japanese menu. A variety of vegetarian sushi is offered.
Taco Maya
South Loop
Mexican, Lunch, Vegetarian, Kid-friendly
A restaurants serving tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, tortas, and margaritas in a casual environment. The menu includes a good number of vegetarian options.
Streeterville:
Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken
Streeterville
American, Vegetarian/Vegan
A shop that sells donuts with flavors like pistachio-Meyer lemon, Valrhona chocolate cake, candied maple bacon, and buttermilk old fashioned, plus fried chicken tenders. It’s a great spot for a quick fast-casual meal.
Lyfe Kitchen
Streeterville
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.
Uptown:
Loving Heart Vegan Cafe
Uptown
American, Global, Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch
A small cafe offering a 100% plant-based menu featuring globally inspired cuisine like a hearty bean wrap, Tomkha soup, a Wabi-Sabi bento box, summer rolls, curry, and plant-based burgers.
West Loop:
Chikatana
West Loop
Mexican, Lunch, Vegetarian
A Mexican cantina inspired by Midwest ingredients, Chikatana has a sophisticated menu with items like chorizo gnocchi, barbacoa short ribs, cabbage in mole blanco, and crispy pork belly. The lunch menu offers tacos, the dinner menu does not. On weekends, the brunch menu has brisket hash, churro French toast, and chilaquiles. All menus have plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Rooh
West Loop
Indian, Vegetarian/Vegan
The menu at Rooh balances culinary trends with tradition. Rooh serves butter chicken, paneer pasanda, plus a chili cheese kulcha, tandoori cauliflower, and tandoor smoked pork belly.
West Town:
Vajra
West Town
Indian, Nepalese, Vegetarian
A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for 2021, Vajra serves elegant traditional Indian and Nepalese cuisine. Currently, Vajra is offering delivery and take out through their website. The menu includes butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, Pahari goat curry, madras curry, cashew shahi korma, several biryanis, and plenty of options for vegetarians.
Kimchi Pop
West Town
Korean, Vegetarian
A counter service restaurant serving soups, stews, bibimbap, and noodles dishes including bulgogi. Upon request, many menu items can be prepared to be vegan or vegetarian.
Wicker Park:
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
Wicker Park
Vegetarian/Vegan
A new restaurant from the owners of Aramu, Bloom’s menu is 100% vegan and gluten-free- and anything but boring. The menu includes items like toasted yuca gnocchi topped with celery root puree, mushroom soffits, kale, and shaved cashew pecorino. Bloom’s cuisine uses fruits and vegetables to create complete meals, without relying on plant-based meats. Bloom serves dinner daily and brunch on Sundays.
Zenwich x Elitea
Wicker Park
Lunch, Asian, Vegetarian/Vegan
Diners at this fast-casual sandwich shop get a choice of six proteins that can be used to make a toasted ciabatta sandwich, an Asian rice paper wrap, or a quinoa bowl. Sides include veggie tempura, gyoza, and fries. This location is a collaboration with Elitea, which serves teas, fruit smoothies, and flavored milk.
Cumin
Wicker Park
Indian, Nepalese, Vegetarian
A Bib Gourmand winning restaurant in the heart of Wicker Park serving traditional Nepalese and Indian food. The menu has plenty of options for vegetarians in addition to tender clay oven cooked meats.
Native Foods
Wicker Park
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.
Chengdu Impression
Wicker Park
Chinese, Asian, Vegetarian
A casual Chinese restaurant serving a massive menu of Sichuan cuisine including go-to dishes like soup dumplings, crab rangoon, sesame chicken, General Tso’s chicken, and crispy duck. They also have a location in Lincoln Park.
MAK (Modern Asian Kitchen)
Wicker Park
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.