Veganism is the practice of eating food that does not contain any animal products. It can be difficult to find a vegan restaurant in Chicago, the home of deep dish sausage pizza, but it is not impossible. The vegan movement grew out of vegetarianism, meaning that you can often find vegan options at vegetarian restaurants, but be sure to check with the server.
The Chicago Diner, at 3411 N. Halsted, is the gold standard when it comes to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Chicago. Founded in 1983, The Chicago Diner has been providing the East Lakeview neighborhood with high quality vegetarian and vegan food for more than twenty five years. It has attracted such celebrities as Roger Ebert, who give it two thumbs up, and Madonna, who opted for the macrobiotic plate. They also have a wide variety of bakery items such as cookies, cakes and scones, and also feature cookie and muffin packs at various Whole Foods in the Chicago area. They also have a great veggie brunch from $5.99.
Veggie Bite, located at 1300 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park, is the vegan version of a greasy spoon. This is not to say that it’s not healthy, however, they’ve gone a different route in presenting vegan fare in the Wicker Park neighborhood. Offering such items as hot dogs, hamburgers and chili cheese fries, Veggie Bite offers a more comforting take on vegan food. Although they claim to be organic, they have yet to be certified by the City of Chicago. No matter, they offer 100% delicious vegan food. The Veggie Bite cheeseburger is made from seitan, a vegetable protein, and tastes so close to the real thing it’s kind of scary.
Cousin’s Incredibly Vitality is located at 3038 W. Irving Park, just south of Albany Park and west of Lincoln Square. More than just vegan, Cousin’s is a raw food restaurant. Raw food advocates claim that the enzymes in food are broken down above a certain temperature (usually 102-116 degrees), and so no food is cooked above that level. One notable item at Cousin’s is the falafel wrap, which uses collard greens instead of pita, and the hummus, with a creamy texture and just the right hint of garlic. Note that most of the dishes use nuts to substitute for the lack of dairy, so be careful if you’re allergic.
Although finding a vegan restaurant in Chicago is not the easiest thing to do, if you make the effort to ask around and don’t mind a few misses now and then, you can find a great meal that is 100% cruelty-free.
