The 18 best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chicago

Even non-vegetarians know Chicago Diner. The vibe is that of a normal, everyday diner, albeit with soy whip, tofu and tempeh on the giant menu. And since the concept has been serving Chicagoans since 1983, you better believe they've got some tried-and-true eats on offer. The housemade samosas are filled with spicy potatoes and green peas, while the Thai chili wings are coated in a chili-lime marinade and served with Sriracha ranch dipping sauce. It doesn't matter what time of day it is—a vegan milkshake is always in order at Chicago Diner.

Chef Rodolfo Cuadros started Bloom as a virtual restaurant operating out of Amaru before turning it into a full-service concept. Guests who stop into the bright and airy spot are treated to creative originals like cactus schnitzel, banana blossom tempura tacos and veggie Swedish meatballs in mushroom cognac ragout. The accommodating food lineup is 100 percent gluten-free as well.

When you see the food coming out of the kitchen, the name of this Hyde Park restaurant makes perfect sense. The "flexitarian" menu puts plant-based products on a pedestal, forging a delectable path ahead for those who are transitioning to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. The loaded Philly cheesesteak and the meatless Chicago dog might distract you, but you're here for the "Who Betta" burger, which finds a quarter-pound Impossible patty dressed up with fresh greens, tomato, pickles, grilled red onions, Epitome sauce and cheese (go vegan or dairy).

The multiple bike racks out back are packed with every kind of two-wheeler imaginable, no matter the time of year at this biker bar (and by biker, we mean bicycle-r). Eco-minded folks come together over tasty meat-free fare, like fried avocado tacos, sambal tofu and something called Vegan Chili Mac Attack (just trust us on this one). An ample list of diverse drafts rounds out the experience.

Part of a chain that originated in Canada, Planta Queen is perhaps Chicago’s swankiest plant-forward restaurant. The menu, crafted by executive chef David Lee, is home to Asian fusion delights, such as crispy gyoza filled with cabbage, carrots and mushrooms; jackfruit wings; and dehydrated watermelon nigiri. Not sure if a dish is suitable for your diet? There’s a handy allergen guide you can check so there are no unwelcome surprises. Fun cocktails, like the Sake to Me (sake, orange liqueur, watermelon, lime), complement the food. For vegans who want an upscale and trendy scene, there’s no better choice than Planta Queen.

The vegetarian fare at this Logan Square café leans heavily on faux meats like tofu and seitan, which get used in approximations of carnivore favorites like chicken nuggets and gyros. Does the food taste like chicken or beef? No. But stuffed into crunchy Baja-style tacos, or layered into a spicy po’ boy sandwich, it is—somehow—just as satisfying, particularly when coupled with something from the small, but impressive, cocktail list.

Not only is Brooklyn export Paulie Gee’s one of the best pizzerias in Chicago, it’s also full of options for non-meat eaters. There’s a dedicated vegan section on the menu, where you’ll find Neapolitan-style, thin-crust pies topped with vegan mozzarella and fennel sausage plus cashew ricotta. We’re also big fans of the Detroit-style slices, which are only available at the Logan Square location.

Chinatown’s sole vegan restaurant offers fresh and healthy takes on Chinese staples. That means diners can expect orange “chicken” featuring fried king mushrooms in a sweet glaze, Mongolian “beef” made with plant-based strips and salt-and-pepper soy shrimp. Even staunch carnivores will be impressed by the imaginative plates coming out of the kitchen at Veggie House.

We mean it when we say there’s something for nearly everyone at this globally-inspired eatery in Albany Park. Whether it’s fried oyster mushrooms, jackfruit tacos or potato-and-veggies empanadas, Kale My Name’s eclectic menu is not short on delicious options. Save space for a slice of homemade cheesecake, too.

Once a Wrigleyville institution, this veggie organic alternative to late-night grease moved a couple blocks up Clark Street to Uptown in 2020, bringing some of its vintage hodgepodge decor and Haight-Ashbury vibes along with it. Thankfully, Pick Me Up Café remains a place where you'll find vegetarian- and vegan-friendly fare alongside diner grub made with meat. Start out with a bowl of vegan mac and cheeze or some vegan mozzarella stix and then dig into an eggplant grinder or tostadas topped with tofu. And if you need a real pick me up, you can grab coffee and espresso drinks made with oat, soy and almond milk.

Located in Chatham, Soul Veg City has been "serving food as medicine" to Chicagoans for more than 30 years. For vegans looking to escape boring lentil hell, the combo basket with battered steak, tofu, cauliflower, mushrooms and onion rings is simply scrumptious, and somehow the fried cauliflower tastes like chicken. The vegan pies that follow may not be conventionally healthy, but that's never the point of soul food.

Carnivores seem to think that without meat on their plates they’d starve. But this 100 percent vegetarian South Indian spot puts an end to that theory with its famous dosa—a gigantic cumin-, potato- and onion-filled rice and lentil crêpe that comes in a dozen varieties. Other good bets include baingan bharta (a roasted eggplant rice dish) and the “Madras-style” okra curry that regulars swear by.

Traditional Jewish delis are synonymous with carnivorous delights, from pastrami and corned beef to lox. Imagine our surprise, then, when a Jewish vegan deli opened in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. What could easily sway into blasphemy is made lovable by husband-and-wife team Andy and Gina Kalish, who painstakingly recreate the classics sans meat. Vegan versions of smoked whitefish, corned beef, pastrami and lox grace the menu, as do iconic add-ons like homemade bagels, latkes and giant black and white cookies.

House-made seitan is the base for most menu items at Liberation Kitchen, a bright little café attached to Upton’s Naturals, a company that makes seitan and sells it in stores across the country. The café has a plentiful menu, including a tofu-seitan banh mi, an Italian "beef" and a nacho plate with chorizo seitan. For dessert, it's all about the chocolate chip cookies, crafted with oats, sunflower seeds and cacao nibs.

Vegans and vegetarians who love Thai food can breathe a sigh of relief. This may look like every other neighborhood joint, but there is no fish sauce hiding in the peanut satay nor egg wash coating the spring rolls: Everything on the menu is 100 percent vegan. Omnivores won’t notice a difference in dishes like a fragrant green curry rife with Japanese eggplant or curried tofu skewers with chunky peanut sauce. If you need a “meat” fix, the light faux-chicken is benign enough; the chewy, heavy faux-steak seitan, however, is best left to the leaf-eaters.

What started as a private catering company has blossomed into a brick-and-mortar empire that acts as a beacon for Chicago's vegan community. Majani keeps our mouths watering with meat-defying creations like the stacked barbecue roast sandwich, which is slathered in tangy sauce. Be sure to save room for dessert: The homemade vegan cupcakes and cookies are not to be missed.

This vegan café in Lakeview focuses on foods made with its house-made seitan, a meat substitute crafted from wheat flour dough. Find the protein-rich gluten in menu favorites like the crave-worthy deep dish pizza and the super saucy chicken parm sandwich. There's also a decent selection of burgers, with patties made from a medley of ground and roasted veggies plus soy protein and chickpea flour.

If you're into the idea of a plant-based diet but can't fathom giving up sweets, pastas and sushi, the menu at Uncooked might pique your interest. The vegan spot offers uncooked, plant-based eats that emulate dishes like maki rolls and sesame noodles. There are juices and smoothies, too, but perhaps most intriguing are the cake cups, which are free of gluten and refined sugar but taste deliciously decadent (carrot cake is a fan-favorite). Even sweeter, Uncooked is a family operation that's helmed by Carole Jones, her son (Jeremy Jones) and his wife (Kaitlyn Jones)—a trio that's dedicated their lives to feeling good through food.