Chicago Vegan Food Guide: 30+ Restaurants, Sights + MORE

Located on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is one of the most welcoming big cities and one of the best cities in Illinois to visit. Lucky for me, Chicago is only a five-hour train ride from Detroit, making it easy for a weekend filled with vegan food!

In addition to vegan eats, the Windy City is brimming with beautiful architecture, which you can enjoy by land or boat, world-class museums, and shopping!

It’s no wonder Condé Nast Traveler has ranked Chicago #1 on their list of the Best Large Cities in the U.S. for three years in a row. Once you visit, you will want to keep coming back!

This guide will not only help you find all the best vegan food Chicago has to offer, but also great things to do, recommendations on where to stay, and more!

Arya Bhavan

2508 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
If you love Indian food, you can’t miss this spot! You’ll find a lengthy menu of traditional dishes and a small lineup of raw options. Everything is created with the highest quality ingredients, minimal oil, and refined sugar.

Vegan Plate

1550 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Come here, extra hungry! You’ll want to devour everything on the menu at this Thai restaurant —crispy tofu, spicy seafood soup (made with soy fish and shrimp), pepper steak, and much more. 

Alice & Friends Vegan Kitchen

They have set out to create a “wonderland” for vegans with their flavorful Asian dishes to please not only vegans but also those who are veg-curious. Their menu is extensive and includes ramen, Korean BBQ, chow mein, and much more. They are also very conscious of those with food allergies or sensitives, the menu is well-marked.

Healthy Substance

6852 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
This family owned restaurant is dishing up amazing traditional Mexican favorites with tons of gluten-free options. You can’t go wrong with a house-made tamale, chorizo gordita, or a loaded burrito!

Amitabul

6207 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
The fusion of traditional Korean cooking with a Western influence creates a non-stop menu of flavor! There are so many things to enjoy — dumplings, curry tofu, sushi, and more — you have a tough decision!

Sam & Gertie’s

1309 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
If you’ve been missing meaty Reubens or savory salami, you can’t skip a visit to Chicago’s only vegan Jewish deli! This casual spot has veganized traditional Jewish delicatessen favorites — start your day with a fresh bagel with cream cheese and end it with a Challah dog! They also have gluten-free bagels.

Majani

7167 S Exchange Ave, Chicago, IL 60649
The amazing vegan Soul Food menu at this spot will put a smile on your face — even the most meatiest of eaters would be pleased! You’ll find loads of traditional dishes all veganized — jerk tofu, fried grits, crab cakes, gumbo, and more.

Dante’s Pizzeria

3028 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
If you love NY-style pizza, you’ve got to come here; they claim to have the best NY Style pizza in the city! The vegan-friendly pizzeria has jumbo slices topped with vegan pepperoni, spicy jalapeño, garlic oil, and more.

Bloom Plant-Based Kitchen

1559 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
They are all about the veggies at this chic Michelin Star Bib Gourmand restaurant. All the dishes are gluten-free and focus on making veggies shine, from cactus schnitzel to red carrot dumplings and everything in between!

Veggie House

2109 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616
While checking out Chicago’s Chinatown, you can’t skip visiting this veggie hot spot! The menu adds a little modern flare to traditional Chinese dishes — crispy turmeric oyster mushrooms, braised lion’s mane, and more.

Original Soul Vegetarian

203 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
This vegetarian spot wants to make sure it’s diners don’t feel like they’re missing out on anything by skipping meat! Their menu features a mix of classic comfort food — fried mushrooms, tender greens, BBQ, and more.

Fancy Plants Café

613 W Briar Pl, Chicago, IL 60657
A delicious place to start your day — or drop in for lunch! The 100% vegan café features breakfast favorites like a croissant sandwich with Just Egg, cheese, smoked seitan, and veggies, or check out one of their house-made quiches, which are also gluten-free. For those with a sweet tooth, they have a great selection of house-made pastries.

Kale My Name

3300 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
On Friday – Saturday, from 11 AM – 4 PM, this Chicago hot spot has an amazing brunch lineup! There is something for everyone — traditional pancakes and sausage, tofu scramble, brunchy empanadas, and so much more.

Lucy’s Café

2100 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
This vegetarian café is well known for its extensive breakfast and brunch menu (it’s available Wednesday – Sunday) — savory toasts, eggless wonders, or a French toast flight!

PLANTA Queen

413 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Every weekend, this chic spot has an amazing brunch menu with a little Asian influence — breakfast futomaki and ube mochi waffles to start, but if that’s not your jam no worries! You’ll also find fluffy cinnamon rolls and French toast coated in corn flakes and topped with berry compote.

Sweet Vegan Bakes

409 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60610
If you thought you’d have to give up every sweet treat you love by going vegan, you must check out this vegan bakery. Their dessert case is filled with tender cakes, creamy cheesecakes, cookies, and so much more.

Cinnaholic

1295 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Did you know there is an entire shop dedicated to vegan cinnamon rolls?! YES! Cinnaholic will make all of your cinnamon swirl dreams come true. They have a few other sweet treats too.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

Multiple shops throughout Chicago
No worries about having to stick with basic sorbet here. Jeni’s has many vegan ice cream options from caramel sticky bun to cold brew with coconut cream.

The Best Things To Do in Chicago

#1 Enjoy beautiful flora and fauna at The Garfield Park Conservatory

This is one of the largest indoor conservatories in the US. It is approximately two indoor acres that feature eight different gardens in multiple climates — from the lush and humid tropics to the dry and arid desert. Outside the indoor gardens are 12 more acres of gardens that come to life during the summer. Even better, admission to this beautiful place is free; donations are appreciated.

#2 Enjoy art, gardens, and more in Millennium Park

Millennium Park is an iconic symbol for Chicago — well known for The Cloud Gate Statue (aka The Bean) but also a lovely place to enjoy free public art and plenty of green space. Aside from The Bean, also check out The Jay Pritzker Pavilion — an outdoor concert venue home to the Grant Park Music Festival along with The Crown Fountain. The fountain is an interactive work of art that incorporates Chicagoans. There are two large LED screens that stand in a reflecting pool showing a collection of faces with the illusion of water coming from their mouths.

#3 Take an architecture cruise

Learn the significance of some of Chicago’s iconic buildings from the water! The tours range in time and type of boat — from a Tall Ship to a kayak and everything in between. No matter which boating method you choose you’re bound to learn some incredible history about the windy city.

#4 Enjoy one of the many museums

Chicago is home to a myriad of world-class museums from art to science and everything in between. If you’re interested in art, make sure you pencil in a stop at The Art Institute of Chicago. It is home to the largest collection of Monet paintings outside of Paris. You can also see work by Seurat and Picasso.

Interested in seeing a giant T-Rex? Then make sure you check out The Field Museum, the museum is filled with over 65,000 exhibits of natural wonder, from fossils to cultural artifacts.

#5 Walk, bike, or run on the Bloomingdale Trail — aka The 606

What was once an abandoned rail line is now an almost 3-mile elevated trail and park, like NYC’s High Line. Along the trail, you will find plenty of greenery, wildlife, and art installations. The trail is wide enough to accommodate runners, walkers, and bikers. After eating all of that great vegan food throughout Chicago, you’re going to want a place to burn some calories!