two vegan acai bowls sitting on a wooden table next to a yellow and green smoothie in the summer in berlin

14 Best Chicago Vegan Breakfast & Brunch Spots

If you’re looking for a delicious vegan breakfast in Chicago, you’re in luck! The city has a thriving vegan food scene, with a never-ending selection of options for veggie eaters to start the day! 

The number of fantastic options can be overwhelming, but have no fear!

I’ve pulled together an incredible lineup of places to check out, no matter if you’re in the mood for something savory or sweet! I guarantee there’s a vegan breakfast or brunch spot in Chicago that will satisfy your cravings. 

To ensure you get your day started right, don’t miss these 14 vegan and vegan-friendly brunch spots in Chicago. 

Vegan Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Chicago

#1 Kale My Name

3300 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Heads up: brunch is available all day, every day!

It’s entirely possible that you’ve already heard about the epic vegan brunch spread that Kale My Name creates every weekend — it’s award-winning! 

The comfort-focused menu has a fantastic selection of sweet and savory eats; I promise you’ll want to try everything! If it’s your first visit, don’t skip the golden Belgian waffles — topped with buffalo cauliflower or traditional maple syrup. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe Brunchpanadas filled with cream cheese and guava or a giant loaded breakfast burrito will!

During the summer, snag a table on their back patio. There’s nothing better than a bit of sunshine and waffles!

vegan brunch spread with waffles, tofu scramble, toast, and colorful drinks at kale my name in chicago
Credit: Kale My Name

#2 Native Foods

Multiple locations throughout Chicago

Heads up: breakfast is served all day, every day!

If you roll out of bed on a Tuesday craving a fully loaded breakfast sandwich, head here! This fast-causal vegan spot has a small but mighty vegan breakfast sandwich lineup available every day of the week. You can choose their fully loaded sandwich with sausage, bacon, egg, Provolone, arugula, and creamy chipotle sauce on a toasted English muffin or get sweet and savory with sausage and egg, cheddar, and sweet maple butter! Or, you might just have to get both — no judgment!

vegan breakfast sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese on a white napkin with a blue background at native foods in chicago
Credit: Native Foods

#3 Chicago Raw

51 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654

Heads up: Breakfast options are available every day!

When you’re feeling sluggish and need a nutrient boost, there’s no better place to go than Chicago Raw. Everything on their prepared, ready-to-go menu is raw, vegan, and mostly gluten-free. You’ll find fan favorites like the Really Raw Oatmeal with raisins, apples, cinnamon, and maple powder to house-made fruit on the bottom yogurt made with coconut meat. 

In addition to healthy eats, there are a ton of healthful things to sip! They have an extensive lineup of fresh juices, elixirs, and smoothies. For a boost of green power, check out the Minty Fresh Greens (banana, spirulina, spinach, moringa, chlorophyll, mint), or for something a little sweeter, try the Pick Me Up (banana, blueberry, ginger, maca, grapefruit juice).

One note, there isn’t seating inside the café; orders are only available to go. 

#4 PLANTA Queen

413 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Heads up: brunch is available every Saturday and Sunday.

For a chic and sophisticated vegan brunch outing in Chicago, look no further than PLANTA! You’ll want to shimmy up to the modern brass bar or slide into one of their cozy booths for a unique Asian and American-inspired brunch menu. If you’ve had your fill of pancakes and waffles, check out their breakfast futomaki made with spinach, tamago, avocado, ahi watermelon, and masago arare or truffle scramble enhanced with their special truffle soy sauce. Now, if you haven’t had your fill of waffles, they have a fabulous ube mochi waffle topped with caramelized banana, pecans, maple syrup, and coconut cream with your name all over it! 

vegan cinnamon roll covered in white icing in a dark blue bowl with a hand holding a fork at planta in nyc
Credit: PLANTA Queen

#5 Bloom Plant-Based Kitchen

1559 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Heads up: brunch is served Friday – Sunday from 11 AM – 3PM

On Sunday morning, you’ve got to hightail it here! The brunch menu at this plant-based restaurant roams the Earth for flavor inspiration — your taste buds are in for a treat. 

On the sweet side, you can’t miss their mouthwatering churro waffle topped with cashew dulce de leche, Mexican chocolate, and coconut whipped cream! Now if that’s not up your alley, there are a ton of other options to satisfy your breakfast cravings, from their house-made eggplant omelet made with Filipino mung beans to savory chilaquiles.

Another neat thing about this spot is that they’ve partnered with ORCA, a bio-digester, to compost food waste and Green Grease to recycle the cooking oil. They’re on a mission to do as much good as possible for Mother Nature!

vegan breakfast spread with two plates of golden waffles next to pancakes and coffee mugs at bloom plant based kitchen in chicago
Credit: Bloom Plant Based Kitchen

#6 Fancy Plants Café 

613 W Briar Pl, Chicago, IL 60657

Heads up: breakfast is served every day until 4 PM.

This charming coffee house meets café is the perfect place to start your day whether you’re on the run or want somewhere to work for a few hours! There is so much to love on this menu! If you’re a coffee aficionado, you can’t miss their Aztec mocha latte blended with chili, cocoa, cinnamon, and vanilla, or the unique maple citrus Crème Brûlée (a flavor powerhouse of maple, vanilla, burnt sugar, nutmeg, and citrus). Once you’ve made your caffeine selection, you’re in for a breakfast sandwich treat! You can’t go wrong with their fan-favorite croissant sandwich loaded with Just Egg, smoky seitan sausage, tomato, and Chao cheese or a house-made quiche (it’s gluten-free, too!). 

vegan croissant breakfast sandwich and chocolate smoothie at fancy plants in chicago
Credit: Fancy Plants Café

#7 Liberation Kitchen 

2054 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60612

Heads up: breakfast is available Saturday & Sunday.

On Saturday or Sunday, you’ll want to set an alarm to head here to get your hands on one of their house-made sausage rolls — a veganized British classic! In addition to the savory pastry, you can fill up with their hearty Brekkie Bowl, loaded with tofu scramble, hash browns, kale, bacon seitan, and topped with truffle sriracha and cheese sauce or a loaded croissant breakfast sandwich. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, this is a terrific spot for vegan donuts in Chicago! They have a rotating selection of traditional and creative flavors covered in chocolate, cookie dough, stuffed with cream, and more!

two vegan croissant sandwiches with egg and cheese at liberation kitchen in chicago
Credit: Liberation Kitchen

Vegetarian Restaurants with Vegan Breakfast & Brunch Options in Chicago

These Chicago vegetarian restaurants have terrific vegan options to help you start the day! 

#8 The Chicago Diner

Location in Logan Square & Lakeview

Heads up: breakfast & brunch options are available until 3 PM daily!

Since ’83, long before vegan options were lining market shelves, The Chicago Diner was pushing veggie-packed dishes — an icon in the plant-based food space. If you’re in the mood for something a little sinful, this is one of the best spots in Chicago. You can’t skip over their giant, cream-covered cinnamon rolls — you’ll probably smell them before you even see these magnificent baked breakfast treats! Many of their breakfast dishes can easily be made vegan by substituting vegan cheese or tofu, like the Mexicana bowl or potato tempeh hash. 

If you can’t choose one of their fabulous options, you can create your own from their Build-a-Brunch menu! Load your plate with pancakes, French toast, potato hash, and much more!

a stack of vegan chocolate chip pancakes topped with whipped cream at the chicago diner
Credit: The Chicago Diner

#9 Lucy’s Café 

2100 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618

Heads up: breakfast is served every day except Monday & Tuesday.

This family-owned vegetarian café is well known for its extensive All American breakfast menu. Start the day with a fluffy stack of banana walnut pancakes or golden French toast covered in sweet maple syrup. If you’d prefer something less sweet, check out their Go Eggless section for various flavorful scrambles and eggless wonders! The menu is well-marked for options that can be made vegan and/or gluten-free. 

#10 Handlebar

2311 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Heads up: breakfast is served every day until 3 PM.

This hip spot is a little bit of rock-n-roll meets a whole lotta veggie-power — it’s anything but boring! The creative and delicious brunch menu is packed with flavor and comforting favorites. It will please even the pickiest eater! The menu has many great vegan options, from a unique country-fried portobello with blackened tofu and seitan gravy to spicy vegan diablos with seitan chorizo, handmade tortillas, beans, rice, and chipotle sauce. 

loaded vegan pancake bowl at handlebar in chicago
Credit: Handlebar

Vegan-Friendly Breakfast Spots in Chicago

While I am sure you probably fell head over heels for something at one of the vegan or vegetarian brunch spots, these vegan-friendly restaurants have terrific options! You can never have too many options, right?

#11 Pick Me Up Café

4882 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Heads up: breakfast is served every day.

This playful vegan-friendly restaurant was one of the first to offer substantial vegan options to its menu back in the late 90s (glad they realized salads aren’t the only thing we eat). All day, every day, you can pop in here for their house-made vegan benedict with fried tofu and home fries, a sweet stack of chocolate chip pancakes, and so much more! This is the best place to go with an omni group!

a stack of golden vegan pancakes topped with berries and syrup on a green floral table cloth next to a vegan milkshake at pick me up cafe in chicago
Credit: Pick Me Up Cafe

#12 LYFE Kitchen 

270 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611

Heads up: breakfast is served every day.

This vegan-friendly chain has a great selection of healthy, vegan options to fuel your day. The well-marked menu features vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options like berry-packed smoothie bowls, cinnamon bun overnight oats, loaded breakfast burritos, and more. 

Bonus! Vegan Donut Spots in Chicago

Is there a better way to start the day than with a chocolate-covered vegan donut? I don’t think so! 

#13 Beacon Doughnuts 

In The Alley, 810 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
You will miss this floral-covered donut shop if you’re not looking for it! Every day this vegan-friendly donut shop is frying up a rotating selection of outrageously delicious vegan donuts — apple fritter, blueberry pancake, lavender vanilla, and many more!

This is a popular spot, so get there when they open or order ahead of time. 

a box of vegan donuts from beacon doughnuts with three large golden glazed donuts sitting on top of the box in chicago
Credit: Beacon Doughnuts

#14 Do-Rite Doughnuts 

Multiple locations throughout Chicago
This vegan-friendly donut franchise is making sure vegans aren’t forgotten. No matter your location, you’ll always find three freshly made vegan flavors — double chocolate, orange olive oil, and spiced maple chai. 

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